Childhood trauma can have a profound effect on development, with a lifelong impact on physical growth, psychological development, and mental health. This chapter provides a framework for adolescent health professionals to understand the impacts of traumatic stress on children and adolescents. This chapter mainly takes the Wenchuan Earthquake studies in China as an example, and reviews recent research findings on epidemiological characteristics of PTSD and related mental disorders, as well as on possible influencing factors and mechanisms for post-traumatic adaptation in children and adolescents. Important intervention strategies for PTSD in children and adolescents are introduced. Prospects for future research are also discussed.
Part of the book: Psychosomatic Medicine