Ottawa-Carleton, ON

Screening Tool: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (in Children and Youth)

This is the Child Trauma Screening Questionnaire (CTSQ) developed by Dr. Justin Kenardy.  Special thanks to Dr. Justin Kenardy for permission to use this tool.

 

It is designed to provide a quick assessment of whether your child shows signs and symptoms of possible post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). No matter what the score, you should seek help if you have any concerns about yourself or your loved ones.

 

Child Trauma Screening Questionnaire

 

These questions should be asked directly to the child/youth in question:

1. Do you have lots of thoughts or memories about the event that you don’t want to have?
2. Do you have bad dreams about the event?
3. Do you feel or act as if the event is about to happen again?
4. Do you have bodily reactions (such as a fast-beating heart, stomach churning, sweating and feeling dizzy) when reminded of the event?
5. Do you have trouble falling or staying asleep?
6. Do you feel grumpy or lose your temper?
7. Do you feel upset by reminders of the event?
8. Do you have a hard time paying attention?
9. Are you on the “look-out” for possible dangerous things that might happen to yourself and others?
10. When things happen by surprise or all of a sudden, does it make you “jump”?

Using a cutoff of 5, the CTSQ is sensitive to predict distressing PTSD symptoms with a sensitivity of 85%, and a specificity of 75%. Reference: Kenardy et al., Screening for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children After Accidental Injury, Pediatrics, 118(3): 1002-1009, Sep 2006.