Psychometrics of a Brief Trauma Symptom Screen for Youth in Residential Care.

Trauma screening is an important element for providing trauma-informed services to youth in residential care. Unfortunately, lack of time and resources may deter clinicians from conducting trauma screening at intake. This study tested the psychometric properties of the Brief Trauma Symptom Screen for Youth (BTSSY), which could be used during intake into residential care. Participants included 572 youth, ages 10-18 years (M = 14.28 years, SD = 2.31), of whom 58.9% were boys, 78.7% were Caucasian, 51.7% were youth receiving services in residential care, 15.6% were youth with clinical needs, and 32.7% were typically developing youth from the local community. Participants completed the BTSSY; other questionnaires of psychopathology, childhood maltreatment, and symptomology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and diagnostic interviews, which were conducted by licensed psychiatrists. The total BTSSY score had a good composite reliability (CR) of .80 and was valid based on a significant positive correlation, r = .64, with the UCLA PTSD-Reaction Index. The BTSSY score was also fair, area under the curve = .75, at detecting a diagnosis of PTSD from a psychiatrist. Significant group differences in the BTSSY scores were found between youth with a diagnosis of PTSD and the other two groups, with moderate-to-large effect sizes, ds = 0.73-1.22. Preliminary results indicated the BTSSY may be a useful screening tool for identifying youth at residential care intake who may need additional assessment for PTSD. Limitations and implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Spanish Abstracts by Asociación Chilena de Estrés Traumático (ACET) Psicometría de la escala breve de síntomas de trauma para jóvenes en atención residencial TAMIZAJE BREVE DE SÍNTOMAS DE TRAUMA PARA JOVENES La detección de los traumas es un elemento importante para proporcionar servicios informados en el trauma a los jóvenes en atención residencial. Desafortunadamente, la falta de tiempo y recursos puede impedir a los médicos realizar detección de traumas en el ingreso. Este estudio probó las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala Breve de Síntomas de Trauma para Jóvenes (BTSSY en su sigla en inglés), que podría usarse durante el ingreso a la atención residencial. Los participantes incluyeron 572 jóvenes, de 10 a 18 años (M = 14.28 años, DE = 2.31), de los cuales 58.9% eran niños, 78.7% eran caucásicos, 51.7% eran jóvenes que recibían servicios de atención residencial, 15.6% eran jóvenes con necesidades clínicas, y 32.7% eran jóvenes con desarrollo normativo de la comunidad local. Los participantes completaron el BTSSY; otros cuestionarios de psicopatología, maltrato infantil, y sintomatología del trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT); y entrevistas de diagnóstico, realizadas por psiquiatras calificados. El puntaje BTSSY total tuvo una buena confiabilidad compuesta (CR en su sigla en inglés) de .80 y fue válido en base a una correlación positiva significativa, r = .64, con el Índice de Reacción del TEPT de UCLA. El puntaje BTSSY también fue favorable, área bajo la curva = .75, al detectar un diagnóstico del TEPT de un psiquiatra. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los grupos en los puntajes BTSSY entre los jóvenes con diagnóstico del TEPT y los otros dos grupos, con tamaños del efecto moderados a grandes, ds = 0.73-1.22. Los resultados preliminares indicaron que el BTSSY puede ser una herramienta útil de detección para identificar a los jóvenes que reciben atención residencial y que pueden necesitar una evaluación adicional para el TEPT. Se discuten las limitaciones e implicaciones para futuras investigaciones y la práctica.

Youth Needs at Intake into Trauma-Informed Group Homes and Response to Services: An Examination of Trauma Exposure, Symptoms, and Clinical Impression.

Trauma-informed care is recommended to improve the quality of group home services for youth. Youth exposure to trauma and associated symptoms are important factors involved in making the clinical impression that determines treatment services. This study considered three dimensions of trauma (exposure, symptoms, and clinical impression) to determine associations with behavioral incidents of youth in trauma-informed group homes and how trauma was related to changes in psychopathology from intake to discharge. Archival records of youth (N = 1,096), age 9-18 (M = 15.7 years) who received services from January 2013 to December 2017, and departed the program were used. Statistical procedures included hierarchical linear modeling and analysis of covariance. Results indicated trauma symptoms predicted emotional problems and self-injurious behavior. Youth in high- and low-trauma groups both showed decreases in behavioral incidents and psychopathology, but clinical impression of trauma moderated the change in emotional problems from intake to discharge. Youth deemed by clinicians to have lower trauma (based on history of maltreatment and expression of trauma symptoms) had greater decrease in emotional problems from admission to discharge. Limitations and implications for further research on implementation and effectiveness of trauma-informed models are discussed.