Posttraumatic stress symptoms in young people with cancer and their siblings: results from a UK sample

Purpose: This study investigated levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in children with cancer and their siblings from a British sample. It also examined aspects of the Ehlers and Clark model of posttraumatic stress disorder in the current population.

Methods: Sixty participants (34 children with cancer and 26 siblings) aged between 8 and 18 years completed measures of PTSS, maladaptive appraisals, trauma-centered identity, perceived social support and family functioning.

Results: Over a quarter of the sample scored above the clinical cutoff on the Impact of Events Scale-Revised. No differences were observed between patients and siblings with respect to levels of PTSS. Maladaptive appraisals and age were found to account for unique variance in levels of PTSS for the overall sample.

Conclusions: Rates of PTSS in the sample were relatively high. Support was found for aspects of the Ehlers and Clark model in explaining PTSS for the current population.