An investigation of trauma narrative characteristics and the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms in very young children

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Cognitive models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that the way in which an individual remembers atraumatic event may be a key factor underlying the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms(PTSS). In particular, trauma narratives that are disorganised and have more sensory and emotional content areassociated with increased PTSS. To date, this has not been explored in very young children despite increased focus onthe identification and treatment of PTSD in children aged 6 and under. This study aims to develop a developmentallyappropriate narrative elicitation exercise, using child-led play and drawing techniques, to assess memory characteristicsin young children (aged 3-8), and investigate the relationship between trauma memory narratives and the developmentand maintenance of PTSS. Study 1 will develop a narrative elicitation exercise in a community sample of young children,and explore differences in recall of positive, neutral and negative events according to organisation and sensoryemotional features. Study 2 will use the narrative elicitation exercise in a sample of trauma-exposed children to explorethe association between trauma narrative features and PTSS at 1 month and 6 months post-trauma, and whether certaincharacteristics of trauma narratives predict PTSD development in young children. This project aims to increaseunderstanding of the applicability of current cognitive models of PTSD in young children.