Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Patients with Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury: Relationship to Functional Independence

Posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms were assessed in individuals with pediatric spinal cord injury (SCI) and were evaluated for their relationship to functional independence. Participants were 64 individuals, ages 11-24, with pediatric SCI. Posttraumatic stress was measured using the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS; for patients ⁾) and the Child Posttraumatic Stress Scale (CPSS; for patients < 18). The POSNA Pediatric Musculoskeletal Functional Health Questionnaire evaluated functional independence. Sixteen (25.4%) participants met DSM-IV criteria for current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTS severity correlated with all POSNA subscales and global function, and PTSD diagnosis was significantly related to two POSNA subscales, as well as global function. PTS/PTSD appears to be prevalent in individuals with pediatric SCI and was also associated with poorer functional independence.