Child and Adolescent Reactions to Injury and Trauma (CARIT)
In addition to the medical and biomechanical aspects of pediatric injury, researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention also address its psychosocial consequences. The aftermath of a traumatic injury is a challenging time for most injured children and their families. Through a number of related studies, the Child and Adolescent Reactions to Injury and Trauma (CARIT) research program is examining the range of responses that children (and their parents) experience after pediatric injury. Our studies have found that psychological distress, such as Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), occurs in significant numbers of:
- Children with unintentional injuries such as traffic-related injuries
- Youth injured by interpersonal violence
- Parents of injured children
Studies now underway are expanding upon these findings and are adding to our understanding of how traumatic stress symptoms may develop in children and parents. Through the CARIT research program, Injury Center researchers are also developing screening tools and intervention methods to promote emotional recovery — and are creating models for integrating them into medical care after pediatric injury.
Areas of Concentration
For children, youth and parents facing pediatric injuries from a variety of causes (including traffic crashes, interpersonal violence and others), Injury Center researchers are working to:
- Document the prevalence of acute and longer-term post traumatic distress
- Understand risk and resilience factors that affect emotional recovery after injury
- Create valid measures for acute stress symptoms in children and youth
- Create practical and valid screening tools to help emergency and acute care clinicians identify children and parents at risk
- Develop effective preventive intervention methods to reduce post traumatic stress after injury. Download helpful information for parents of recently injured children, and useful tools for healthcare providers.
Our Research
Understanding Injury and Traumatic Stress
Through the CARIT project, Center researchers have developed parent and child tip sheets to provide basic information on positive recovery, self-care, and common reactions to injury.