Neuropsychological Profiles of Children with Psychological Trauma

Abstract

The present study aimed to see whether the children experienced different types of psychological trauma have deficits in neuropsychological functioning. Data were collected from participants having experience of trauma (clinical sample) and from a comparison group (non-clinical sample). The clinical sample consisted of 34 participants (16 male; 18 female) recruited from psychiatric hospitals and the non-clinical sample consisted of 30 participants (10 male; 20 female) recruited from the community. All participants’ age ranged from 8 to 17 years. Data were collected following a survey method using Children’s Revised Impact of Events Scale (CRIES-8), Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (2-subtests WASI), Letter-number sequencing and Digit span subtests of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, RCFT, trail making test of D-KEFS and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Descriptive statistics, Independent-samples t-test, One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and bivariate Pearson’s product-moment correlation were used to analyze the data using IBM SPSS 22. The clinical sample demonstrated higher level of deficits in cognitive functioning and higher level of emotional and behavioral problems. Among the clinical sample, 88.2% were found to have borderline and/or impaired level of IQ. 55.9% clinical sample were found to have higher level of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Statistically significant differences between clinical and non-clinical sample were found in Intelligence [t(61) = 3.835; p = .000] and in other cognitive, emotional and behavioral variables which are connected with different types of psychopathology. The findings illustrate that psychological trauma may affect the developing brain and its impacts manifest in different neuropsychological functions in children such as IQ level, attention, memory, emotional and behavioural difficulties etc., and shed light on the significance of comprehensive trauma informed assessment and management for the children coming with psychological problems.