In press, Journal of Abnormal psychology Diagnostic, demographic, memory quality, and cognitive variables associated with Acute Stress Disorder in children and adolescents

To date, no studies have investigated factors associated with Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents. Relationships between ASD and a number of demographic, trauma, cognitive, and trauma memory variables were therefore investigated in a sample (N = 93) of children and adolescents involved in assaults and motor vehicle accidents. Several cognitive variables and the quality of trauma memories, but not demographic or trauma variables, were correlated with ASD and also mediated the relationship between peri-traumatic threat and ASD. Finally, nosological analyses comparing ASD with indices of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the month post-trauma revealed little support for the Dissociation mandate that uniquely characterizes ASD. The results are discussed with respect to assessment and treatment for the acute traumatic stress responses of children and young people.