Population-based and clinical studies indicate that a substantial proportion of children and adolescents are exposed to one or more potentially traumatic events (PTEs) Approximately 16 % of those affected by childhood trauma go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with an even higher proportion experiencing subclinical levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). In Switzerland, over half of adolescents report exposure to at least one PTE, with 4.2 % meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD. PTSD frequently impacts young people's social and educational functioning, often impairing their ability to engage in everyday life activities that are important or meaningful to them. Although the psychological consequences of PTSD are well documented, there is limited empirical understanding of how PTSS specifically affects day-to-day functioning in young people.
A key reason for this gap is the absence of a validated instrument specifically designed to assess PTSD-related functional impairment in children and adolescents. To address this need, the PTSD-iMPairment in Adolescent \& Children's Capacity for Thriving (PTSD-iMPACT) measure was developed. This tool aims to systematically assess the extent of PTSD-related functional impairment in children and adolescents across key life domains, such as family, friends, school, apprenticeship, hobbies or media use.
The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the PTSD-iMPACT questionnaire in a clinical and in a non-clinical sample and to provide an internationally applicable standard instrument for the assessment of PTSD-related functional impairment in trauma-exposed children and adolescents.
In the long term, the aim is to ensure that the care and support provided to children and adolescents who experience difficulties in their daily lives due to post-traumatic stress symptoms are sustainably monitored and improved.
Use of (mental) health services at a participating study center.
Children and adolescents between 7 and 18 years / caregivers of children and adolescents between 3 and 18 years
Sufficient knowledge of the German language
Signed consent form (7-18 years: patient and caregiver; 3-6 years: caregivers)
Children and adolescents under 7 or over 18 years / caregivers of children and adolescents under 3 or over 18 years
Not sufficient knowledge of the German language
No signed consent form (7-18 years: patient and/or caregiver; 3-6 years: caregivers)
Students between 3rd grade and 18 years / caregivers of kindergarteners and students up until 18 years
University Children's Hospital, Zurich
Lead sponsor
University Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
Collaborator
Outpatient clinic for trauma, Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents, RHTW Aachen, Aachen, Deutschland
Collaborator
Psychotherapeutic outpatient clinic for children and adolescents, Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany
Collaborator
Psychotherapeutic outpatient clinic for children and adolescents, University of Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany
Collaborator
Center for Psychotherapie Bodensee (apb), Konstanz, Deutschland
Collaborator
Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic (KJ-PAM), Universität Marburg, Marburg, Deutschland
Collaborator
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services Thurgau, Switzerland
Collaborator
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services St. Gallen, Switzerland
Collaborator
Cantonal Hospital Winterthur, Switzerland
Collaborator