Pediatric and Caregiver Traumatic Stress Intervention (PACTS)

Pediatric and Caregiver Traumatic Stress Intervention: A Path Forward After Injury for Pediatric Survivors and Their Caregivers

The purpose of this study is to learn more about how to help the caregiver and child survivor of a traumatic injury handle post-traumatic stress disorder and/or depression.

This study is a trial to determine if a caregiver-child dyadic screening and caregiver intervention with pediatric trauma patients reduces traumatic stress symptoms in both child and caregiver, and depressive symptoms in caregivers compared to the current standard of care. The purpose of the PACTS Intervention is to identify and address the needs of the caregiver and the child survivor who are at-risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder and/or depression following traumatic injury of the child.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Child requires inpatient treatment for an unintentional injury (e.g. burns, dog bite, road traffic accident) in the pediatric trauma and/or pediatric burns units
• English-speaking adults, with English denoted as the primary language in the electronic medical record (EMR)
• Caregiver-child dyads who screen positive with the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) Tools will be invited to participate in the randomized controlled trial.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients and/or caregivers with cognitive deficits, with psychotic symptoms, refusing treatment, and leaving the hospital against medical advice (AMA) were unable to participate in counseling interventions by condition or by choice and are excluded from the study population