Clinical assessment of PTSD in children with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities: a pilot study

Objective: There are few studies regarding assessment and treatment of trauma-related disorders in people with intellectual disabilities (ID). The aims of this study were to determine (1) the feasibility of an adapted version of a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-clinical interview and (2) to what extent manifestation of PTSD in a sample of children with mild to borderline ID corresponds with four existing PTSD algorithms.

Method: Fifteen children who visited a special need school were interviewed.

Results: In all children, the full interview could be completed. Potentially traumatic events (A1 criterion), and PTSD symptoms for children with mild to borderline ID were similar to those observed in children without ID.

Conclusions: The manifestation of PTSD in children with mild to borderline ID corresponds with the manifestation of PTSD in children without ID. The data provide no reason to broaden PTSD criterion A1 for children with mild to borderline ID.