Development and initial validation of the Odense Child Trauma Screening: a story stem screening tool for preschool and young schoolchildren

Abstract

Early identification of young children exposed to trauma who are at risk of developing post-trauma symptomatology such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other emotional or behavioral problems is important for allocating appropriate treatment and preventing long-term consequences. However, assessment of young children exposed to trauma is challenging because children may not be able to talk about their trauma or trauma reactions. Story stem tools combine storytelling and play to access the internal world of young children and can be used in the assessment of children exposed to trauma.

Keywords

• trauma
• narrative story stem technique
• doll-play
• preschool and young schoolchildren
• validity
• reliability