Children and Coronavirus Infection (Covid-19): What to Tell Children to Avoid Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Abstract

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop in subjects who have been or have witnessed a traumatic, catastrophic or violent event, or who have become aware of a traumatic experience that happened to a loved one. Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) usually begins immediately after the traumatic event and lasts from three days to a month, while Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be the continuation of an acute stress disorder and it may happen that it does not develop until 6 months after the event itself. Generally most people overcome the shock that a blatant event can cause without the need for additional support. In a percentage of cases, the victim's suffering can be prolonged for more than a month after exposure to trauma and significantly interfere with the individual's working, social or school life; in this case the diagnosis of PTSD must be made.