Posttraumatic stress disorder in children: implications for assessment, prevention, and referral in primary care.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been described in children exposed to a variety of traumatic experiences. It is relatively common and is often accompanied by comorbid conditions. A number of factors influence the development of symptoms including those related to the traumatic event, the individual child, the family, and the sociocultural environment. Primary care physicians should routinely assess trauma exposure and response in the children they treat.