Cognitive Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress in Children 6 Months after Paediatric Intensive Care Unit Admission

This study aimed to identify predictors, especially cognitive predictors, of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children 6 months after Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission. Participants were 55 children aged 6–16, admitted to PICU for at least 8 h. Medical data were collected from patient charts. Cognitive variables (peri-trauma affect, cognitive processing and trauma memory) were assessed by interview and self-report questionnaires 2–4 weeks and 6 months following PICU admission. Acute PTSS at 2–4 weeks were assessed by self-report questionnaire and PTSD at 6 months was assessed by clinical interview. Receiving ketamine in PICU was the only non-cognitive variable associated with PTSS at 6 months. Peri-trauma affect, cognitive processing, and trauma memory significantly and independently accounted for 21% of the variance in PTSS at 6 months even after controlling for acute PTSS (and ketamine). A mediation analysis showed that peri-trauma affect indirectly influenced PTSS at 6 months through its effect on cognitive processing. Conclusions: Cognitive variables significantly contribute to PTSS in children, following PICU admission. Peri-trauma affect influenced PTSS only via disrupted cognitive processing. Prevention or early intervention strategies aimed at helping children develop a complete, contextual trauma narrative may be effective in reducing persistent posttraumatic stress responses in children following PICU.