Journal of Psychiatry

Comorbidity or complex PTSD? A study in children exposed to IPV

27^th International Conference on PSYCHIATRY & PSYCHOLOGY HEALTH

June 18-19, 2018 Paris, France

Concepcion Lopez-Soler1, 2, Antonia Martinez1, Visitacion Fernandez Fernandez1, Maravillas Castro Saez1 and Mavi Alcantara Lopez

University of Murcia, Spain
University Clinical Hospital V Arrixaca, Spain

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: There are few empirical studies that document the comorbidity between PTSD and other psychopathological alterations in minors exposed to interpersonal partner violence (IPV). We believe that it is necessary to carry out, from a clinical and treatment point of view, the diagnosis of complex PTSD, instead of assigning the diagnosis of PTSD associated with other disorders (DSM-5, 2013). This is the question that is currently being debated. The purpose of this study was to determine the comorbidity between PTSD and general psychopathology in children exposed to IPV. Methodology: A total of 153 children exposed to intimate partner violence took part, who had severe psychological disturbances [76 children (49.7%) and 77 girls (50.3%), aged between 8 and 17 years; (M=11.50; Ds=2.72),]. The instrument of measurement was CBCL/6-18 (Achenbach and Rescorla, 2001), which evaluates behavioral and emotional problems; and Child Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale (CPSS; Foa, Johnson, Feeny and Tredwell, 2001) consisting of 17 symptoms. Findings: Fifty-nine percent of the children presented three or more empirical syndromes of the CBCL and severe symptoms of PTSD. It was also found that, with greater depressive/anxious symptomatology, somatic complaints and internalizing symptoms, the PTSD symptoms increased. Conclusion & Significance: The results are similar to those found in other studies like Cloitre et al., 2009, Fan et al., 2011, Hodges et al., 2013, Jonkman et al., 2013, Margolin and Vickerman, 2011, Scheeringa, 2015, which makes us think not only about the difficulty of the diagnosis when the symptoms become more complex, but the practical implications that are derived for a more effective treatment.

Biography :

Concepción López-Soler is a Doctor in Psychology and Specialist in Clinical Psychology. She works as an Associate Professor at the University of Murcia, linked to the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital Clinic for Pediatric Service. She handles a professional team with great experience training psychological treatments in childhood and adolescence.

E-mail: clopezs@um.es