The objective of this project is to learn what is known in the field about treating symptoms of PTSD in young children with medications and examine the use of medications in a daytreatment program for preschoolers.
Increasing numbers of very young children are experiencing traumatic events today. A small group of children exposed to these events develop the full clinical syndrome of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. The Kempe Therapeutic Preschool is a day-treatment program specializing in assessing and treating preschoolers with histories of maltreatment and trauma. Children are provided with individual and family therapy, case management and a therapeutic milieu. Each child also receives a psychiatric evaluation and medications are prescribed when warranted. Recently, anecdotal experience at the Preschool has indicated that a subset of children with PTSD treated with Clonidine responded with excessive sedation and irritability. Treating this group of children with Guanfacine has appeared to be more effective with less side effects. However, there is little research to corroborate these observations.
The student will work with the attending psychologist and child psychiatrist to learn about the use of psychotropic medications to treat symptoms of PTSD in young children. The student will review the literature regarding the treatment of PTSD in children, medications used, any clinical trials. There also may be an opportunity to review charts of children in the Preschool to gather preliminary data related to their medication regimens and responses.
Preceptor Information |
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| Name: | Karen Frankel | |
| Department: | Psychiatry | |
| Location: | 4200 E. 9th Avenue; Box C268-52 | |
| Denver, CO 80262 | ||
| Contact: | 303-315-6897 | |
| karen.frankel@uchsc.edu | ||
| Faculty/Lab Website: | ||
Position Information |
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| Openings: | 1 | |
| Funding: |
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