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Table 1 Symptoms and Criteria of the Three Diagnostic Algorithms for PTSD

From: Comparing three diagnostic algorithms of posttraumatic stress in young children exposed to accidental trauma: an exploratory study

DSM-IV [5]

PTSD-AA [6]

DSM-5, subtype for children 6 years and younger [1]

Criterion A1

Criterion A1

Criterion A1

Criterion A2: Response to event involves intense fear, helplessness or horror

Criterion A2 not required

Criterion A2 not required

B. Intrusion (1 required)

B. Intrusion (1 required)

B. Intrusion (1 required)

1. Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections

1. Recurrent and intrusive recollections, not required to be distressing

1. Recurrent and intrusive recollections, not required to be distressing

2. Recurrent distressing dreams of the event

2. Recurrent distressing dreams of the event

2. Recurrent distressing dreams of the event

3. Dissociation (e.g., flashbacks)

3. Dissociation (e.g., flashbacks)

3. Dissociation (e.g., flashbacks)

4. Intense psychological distress at reminders

4. Intense psychological distress at reminders

4. Intense psychological distress at reminders

5. Physiological reactivity at reminders

5. Physiological reactivity at reminders

5. Physiological reactivity at reminders

C. Avoidance/numbing (3 required)

C. Avoidance/numbing (1 required)

C. Avoidance/negative alterations in cognitions and mood (1 required)

1. Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations

1. Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations

1. Efforts to avoid activities, places or physical reminders

2. Efforts to avoid activities, places or people

2. Efforts to avoid activities, places or people

2. Efforts to avoid people, conversations or interpersonal situations

3. Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma

3. Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma

3. Increased frequency of negative emotional states

4. Diminished interests in significant activities

4. Diminished interests, emphasize play constriction

4. Diminished interests, including play constriction

5. Feelings of detachment from others

5. Socially withdrawn behavior

5. Socially withdrawn behavior

6. Restricted range of affect

6. Restricted range of affect

6. Reduction in expression of positive emotions

7. Sense of foreshortened future

7. Sense of foreshortened future

 

D. Hyperarousal (2 required)

D. Hyperarousal (2 required)

D. Hyperarousal (2 required)

1. Difficulty falling or staying asleep

1. Difficulty falling or staying asleep

1. Difficulty falling or staying asleep

2. Irritability, angry outbursts

2. Irritability, includes excessive temper

2. Irritability, angry outbursts, includes extreme temper tantrums

3. Difficulty concentrating

3. Difficulty concentrating

3. Difficulty concentrating

4. Hypervigilance

4. Hypervigilance

4. Hypervigilance

5. Exaggerated startle response

5. Exaggerated startle response

5. Exaggerated startle response