Children with PTSD may exhibit which clinical features?

Appeared in: JIPMER Pondicherry NO - 2022

Explanation

Children with PTSD often exhibit developmental regression, which is a return to behaviors from an earlier stage of development.
Bedwetting (secondary enuresis) in a child who was previously toilet-trained is a classic example of this regression.
This behavior is linked to the high levels of stress and anxiety that disrupt normal functioning, including bladder control during sleep.
Other regressive behaviors include thumb-sucking, using 'baby talk,' and an increased need for clinging to caregivers.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Delayed growth is not a direct clinical feature of PTSD. It is more associated with long-term environmental factors like chronic neglect or malnutrition, which can co-occur with trauma but are not symptoms of the disorder itself.
Option B: Hives (urticaria) are primarily an allergic or dermatological condition. While stress can be a trigger for somatic symptoms, hives are not a recognized diagnostic criterion for PTSD.
Option D: Hearing loss is a sensory impairment related to the auditory system. It is a physical condition and not a psychological symptom of PTSD.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Clinical manifestations of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses must recognize developmental regression as a key sign of trauma in children, as it may be one of the most visible changes in behavior.
Assessing for PTSD in children requires a holistic approach, including asking parents about changes in behavior, sleep patterns, play, and toileting habits.
A key nursing intervention is to provide a safe, predictable environment and psychoeducation for caregivers, explaining that regression is a common response to trauma and not a sign of willful misbehavior.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the clinical presentation of PTSD specifically in children.
Recall that children often respond to trauma differently than adults. A key feature in pediatric trauma response is developmental regression.
Evaluate each option based on this understanding.
Option A (Delayed growth spurt) is a long-term issue, not a direct symptom.
Option B (Hives) is primarily an allergic reaction.
Option C (Bedwetting) is a classic example of regression in a previously toilet-trained child.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Clinical manifestations of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children.
Stem keywords: Children, PTSD, clinical features
Lead-in keywords: exhibit which
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Qo9dyIRK8y452QGt4KuM-T

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 545-547

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 12512-12514

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