They’ll Never Be the Same: A Parent’s Guide to PTSD in Youth

Scheeringa, a psychiatrist and professor at Tulane University School of Medicine, brings more than 20 years of clinical practice and research in the field of post-traumatic stress disorder to this informative if somewhat acerbic guide. He clarifies the symptoms for parents while pointing a finger at clinicians who fail to diagnose or properly treat the disorder. According to Scheeringa, PTSD is a chronic disorder from which most never fully recover, even with treatment (thus, the ominous title). The author lays out how PTSD is diagnosed, and emphasizes the importance of its updated inclusion in the DSM-III. (This particular information may be less relevant to parents than to clinicians who require a reliable definition.) Scheeringa clearly explains how PTSD differs from stress, observing that the disorder is unique in that it occurs suddenly, following a life-threatening event. He urges parents to wait no more than one month before seeking professional help for their child, preferably from a clinician who offers cognitive behavioral therapy. The FAQ chapter should be particularly useful for parents, as should an appendix that addresses talking with children who have experienced trauma. As a whole, the text offers parents valuable guidance on finding help promptly and wisely. [em](Apr.) [/em]