Factors which contribute to developing PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is caused by a traumatic experience.

Not everyone that experiences trauma will go on to develop PTSD, however, children and young people exposed to trauma are more at risk of PTSD. A longitudinal study in the UK found that 25% of children and young people exposed to trauma developed PTSD by the age of 18 (Lewis et al, 2019).

Risk factors for the development of PTSD in children or young people include:

• The characteristics of the traumatic experience
• Gender differences
• Family functioning
• Social status
• Co-occurrence of other mental health conditions  

Autistic children and young people are more likely to report symptoms of PTSD, with a suspected prevalence rate of 32-45%.