Treatment of PTSD in Early Childhood

In the first 6 years of life, children undergo rapid emotional, cognitive, and social development which influences the way they experience traumatic events and cope with them. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) manifest differently at this early age compared to later childhood and adolescence. Consequently, it is crucial to adopt an age-appropriate approach to identify and treat PTSD during early childhood. This chapter provides an overview of symptom manifestation, diagnostic criteria for PTSD, assessment tools, and treatment approaches for infants and young children. Promising treatments for trauma-related disorders are available, including age-appropriate adaptations of treatments recommended for older populations, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy. Additionally, there are interventions specifically developed to address the unique needs of young children, such as dyadic attachment-based interventions. While there are growing efforts to understand, assess, and treat trauma in young children, we still know little about infants and toddlers. Further research is needed in this area to improve our understanding of trauma for the youngest children and develop effective interventions.