What is post traumatic stress disorder ptsd is a psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 1 9 of children and adolescents depending on the population sampled the prevalence of traumatic events is significantly higher affecting up to 39 of high risk children and adolescents and many children do not develop ptsd as a result of these experiences. It was reported that in the immediate aftermath of such events a high percentage of children will experience symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder ptsd with approximately 20 30 going on to develop the full disorder in the first 6 months however due to the special stage of their physical and mental development unique features of pediatric ptsd have less been studied. Post traumatic stress disorder in children all children may experience very stressful events that affect how they think and feel most of the time children recover quickly and well however sometimes children who experience severe stress such as from an injury from the death or threatened death of a close family member or friend or from . Post traumatic stress disorder ptsd is a common psychiatric condition in childhood and adolescence rates vary widely depending upon the type of trauma exposure interpersonal traumas such as rape or physical abuse are more likely to result in ptsd than exposure to natural or technological disas