When multidisciplinary clinical practice and research meet: Quality development in the Danish Children Centers.

BACKGROUND: Collaboration between clinical practice and research is often warranted. Extended periods of collaboration integrating research and practice is however rare. This article is about a series of joint research projects through the course of 8 years involving the Danish Center of Psychotraumatology and five regional centres dedicated to combating the sequelae of child abuse across Denmark. METHOD: We describe the development of a standardized assessment battery and how this work evolves, analyses of administrative data, what happens after the assessment, the impact of working with child abuse on employees, profiles of abuse that vary by gender, national conferences and training programs, and international collaboration. RESULT: The collaboration between research and practice against child abuse has been seminal and is still ongoing. We have learnt about new problem areas and have produced information that can be used to serve children, employees, and civil society in better ways. DISCUSSION: This work is inspired by and aligns with initiatives abroad pertaining the construction of Children Centers, of assessments tools and child abuse trauma research. CONCLUSION: Mutual respect, dedication, and patient persistence pave the way for significant results in a committed relationship.

This article describes and reflect upon a year-long collaboration between a multidisciplinary clinical organization, the Danish Children Centers, and a research centre, the Danish Center of Psychotraumatology who have joined forces to provide the best help for children exposed to physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. The article describes the collaboration on developing a trauma-focused, developmentally sensitive psychological assessment battery for children of all ages. The article thereafter describes and reflects upon other projects of the collaboration that benefit both research and practice, including the establishment of data base for studying the psychological state of children exposed to abuse and related studies on child abuse; evaluations of the Children Centers practices; examinations of care and treatment for abused and traumatized children, training of staff and other interested parties; and examination and prevention of secondary traumatization among the Children Centers staff. With mutual respect for all professions, dedication, and patient persistence a professional collaboration can evolve.

Examination of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD using the International Trauma Questionnaire - Child and Adolescent version (ITQ-CA) in a sample of Danish children and adolescents exposed to abuse.

Background: International research has established that children and adolescents are at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) as defined by the WHO ICD-11. There is a need for a Danish language version of the International Trauma Questionnaire - Child and Adolescent (ITQ-CA) to assess symptoms of PTSD and CPTSD.Objective: To test the ICD-11 formulations of PTSD and DSO (Disturbances of Self-Organization) using the ITQ-CA version in a sample of children exposed to abuse. Additionally, to study the distribution of symptoms and probable prevalence of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD among the population of children exposed to violence or sexual abuse.Method: Confirmatory factor analysis of competing models of the dimensionality of the ITQ-CA was tested among a sample of 119 children and adolescents that were referred to the Danish Children Centres on suspicion of physical or sexual abuse or both. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to study the distribution of symptoms and consequences of different operationalisations of functional impairment were explored.Results: Findings supported a two-factor second-order model corresponding to the operationalisation of CPTSD in ICD-11 as the best representation of the data. Findings from the LCA suggested that symptoms were distributed in a pattern consistent with the ICD-11 proposal for CPTSD. CPTSD was more prevalent than PTSD regardless of the operationalisation of functional impairment.Conclusion: ITQ-CA is a valid tool for identifying symptoms of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD among Danish children exposed to physical or sexual abuse. Further research is needed to study the relationship between ICD-11 C/PTSD symptomatology and anxiety and depression in this population.

The International Trauma Questionnaire ­ Child and Adolescent version (ITQ-CA) is a valid measure of symptoms of ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD among Danish children exposed to physical or sexual violence.The structure of the ITQ-CA in the Danish sample reflects the ICD-11 diagnostic algorithm.CPTSD is a more prevalent disorder among children recently exposed to violence than PTSD.

Development and initial validation of the Odense Child Trauma Screening: a story stem screening tool for preschool and young schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of young children exposed to trauma who are at risk of developing post-trauma symptomatology such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other emotional or behavioral problems is important for allocating appropriate treatment and preventing long-term consequences. However, assessment of young children exposed to trauma is challenging because children may not be able to talk about their trauma or trauma reactions. Story stem tools combine storytelling and play to access the internal world of young children and can be used in the assessment of children exposed to trauma. OBJECTIVE: To examine reliability and validity of a new story stem tool, the Odense Child Trauma Screening (OCTS). OCTS was developed to screen for play-based behavior and narrative representations indicative of traumatization in preschool and young schoolchildren. METHOD: Forty-nine Danish children aged 4.5-8.9 years (M = 6.6, SD = 1.2) participated in the OCTS. Participants included a risk sample of 31 children exposed to traumas and a community sample of 18 children. Caregivers were interviewed about child symptoms of PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and reactive attachment disorder (RAD) and answered the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The community sample completed OCTS test-retests. RESULTS: Interrater reliability proved excellent (ICC = .96-1.00). Test-retest reliability was acceptable (ICC = .66). Significant moderate correlations were found between the OCTS total score and scales of PTSD, MDD and RAD and the SDQ Total Difficulties Scale. The ability of the OCTS to discriminate between children from the risk and community sample was good. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided preliminary evidence of reliability and validity of the OCTS as a screening tool for young children exposed to trauma. OCTS shows promise as a standardized, age-appropriate informant-based screening measure applicable for clinical assessment.

Validation of ICD-11 PTSD and DSO using the International Trauma Questionnaire in five clinical samples recruited in Denmark.

Background: The 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) revised the diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and introduced Complex PTSD as a sibling disorder to PTSD. As the Danish Health Authorities will implement the ICD-11 in 2022, it is more relevant than ever to introduce a measure that enables the identification of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD. Objective: The primary aim of the present study was to test the construct validity of the ICD-11 conceptualization of PTSD and DSO in five clinical samples using translated versions of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). Method: Data from existing studies of adult survivors of sexual abuse (n = 385), women in shelters (n = 147), psychiatric outpatients endorsing an ICD-10 diagnosis of PTSD (n = 111), a heterogenous sample of psychiatric outpatients (n = 178) and refugees and torture survivors (n = 385) was used for the current study. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the internal structure of the ITQ, and regression models were conducted to test the convergent and discriminant validity of the factor solutions for each sample. Results: Findings supported the ICD-11 formulation of PTSD and disorders in self-organization (DSO) as a representation of the latent structure of the ITQ across five Danish clinical samples. Uniquely for women in shelters, however, the model displayed an unacceptable fit. A revised operationalization of re-experiencing proved a better fit when 'recurrent nightmares' was exchanged with symptoms of intense emotional reactions to reminders of the trauma for women in shelter as well as ICD-10 PTSD psychiatric outpatients. Conclusion: This study supports the use of a Danish translated version of the ITQ to assess symptoms of ICD-11 PTSD and DSO for the introduction of ICD-11 in 2022. Future research is needed to further explore the operationalization of re-experiencing across different trauma exposed populations.

Antecedentes: La décimo primera versión de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE-11) revisó el diagnóstico de Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático (CIE-11) e introdujo el TEPT complejo como un diagnóstico hermano del TEPT. Como las autoridades de salud danesas implementarán la CIE-11 en el 2022, es más relevante que nunca introducir una medición que permita la identificación del TEPT y el TEPT complejo de acuerdo a la CIE-11.Objetivo: El principal objetivo del presente estudio fue probar la validez del constructo diagnóstico de la conceptualización del TEPT y de las Alteraciones en la Auto-Organización (DSO por sus siglas en inglés) en cinco muestras clínicas usando versiones traducidas del Cuestionario Internacional de Trauma (ITQ por sus siglas en inglés).Método: Se usaron para el presente estudio, datos de estudios ya existentes de sobrevivientes adultos de abuso sexual (n = 147), pacientes psiquiátricos ambulatorios con diagnóstico de TEPT de acuerdo a la CIE-10 (n = 111), una muestra heterogénea de pacientes psiquiátricos ambulatorios (n = 178) y refugiados y sobrevivientes de tortura (n = 385). Se usaron análisis factoriales confirmatorios para probar la estructura interna del ITQ, y se aplicaron modelos de regresión para probar la validez convergente y discriminante de las soluciones factoriales para cada muestra.Resultados: Los hallazgos apoyaron la formulación de ls CIE-11 del TEPT y de los desórdenes en la auto-organización (DSO) como una representación) de la estructura latente del ITQ en 5 muestras clínicas danesas. Sin embargo, en el caso de las mujeres de los centros de acogida, el modelo mostró un ajuste inaceptable. Una operacionalización revisada de la re-experimentación probó ser más ajustada cuando 'pesadillas recurrentes' fue reemplazada por los síntomas de reacciones emocionales intensas ante recordatorios del trauma para mujeres en los centros de acogida así como a los pacientes psiquiátricos ambulatorios con TEPT según la CIE-10.Conclusión: Este estudio apoya el uso de la versión traducida en danés del ITQ para evaluar síntomas de TEPT y DSO de acuerdo a la CIE-11 para la introducción de la CIE-11 en el 2022.Se requiere futura investigación para explorar la operacionalización de la re-experimentación en diferentes poblaciones expuestas al trauma.

Psychological Distress and Attachment Insecurity of Stalked Mothers.

There is a lack of research about intimate partner stalking when victim and stalker have children together. The aim of the current study was to provide knowledge about the mental health status and attachment patterns of mothers stalked by the father of one or more of their children. One hundred ninety six Danish women, recruited via a closed social network for stalked mothers, completed an anonymous online questionnaire concerning their experiences of violence during and after the relationship with the stalker, relationship characteristics, attachment patterns, and psychological distress. Results indicated high exposure to psychological maltreatment during the victim-stalker relationship, harassing and violent stalking behaviors after relationship termination, and high levels of functional disabilities, PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), other trauma-related, affective, and somatization symptoms. Furthermore, the women retrospectively reported an increase in attachment insecurity from the time before their relationship with the stalker to the time of study participation (after they experienced relationship violence and/or stalking). Stalking behaviors uniquely contributed to the explanation of the mothers' psychological distress above the effects of relationship violence. Moreover, attachment insecurity appeared to be the strongest predictor of psychological distress. Having children together with their stalker captures women in an ongoing situation of threat and interpersonal traumatization that differs from other forms of stalking in many respects. The present study is the first drawing attention to the experiences and suffering of stalked mothers, a particularly vulnerable group of stalking victims.

When Daddy Stalks Mommy: Experiences of Intimate Partner Stalking and Involvement of Social and Legal Authorities When Stalker and Victim Have Children Together.

This study examined intimate partner stalking experienced by 196 mothers stalked by the father of their children. Respondents completed a questionnaire concerning experiences of stalking and level of support by the authorities. Results revealed higher rates of harassing than violent stalking. In many cases, the children were also targeted by the stalking. Encounters with several agencies were common, but respondents were often not recognized as victims of stalking and demoralized by extensive case proceedings. This study calls for a special sensitivity of professionals encountering stalked parents in their work and highlights a need for coordination and cooperation among multiple agencies.

Validation of the Diagnostic Infant and Preschool Assessment in a Danish, trauma-exposed sample of young children.

BACKGROUND: There exist only few developmentally sensitive assessment instruments for identifying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other potentially comorbid affective and behavioral symptomatology in preschool children. Consequently, young children who exhibit post-trauma symptomatology risk not being identified and not receiving the appropriate treatment. One of the few instruments that exist is the Diagnostic Infant and Preschool Assessment (DIPA). OBJECTIVE: To examine internal reliability and convergent validity of the Danish version of the DIPA, a semi-structured interview of caregivers about their child's mental health. METHOD: In total, 62 caregivers of trauma-exposed children aged 1-6 years were interviewed with the DIPA and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS: The children had experienced between one and eight traumas (Mdn = 3). Based on the DIPA, 48.4% of the children exhibited PTSD. The DIPA showed good to excellent internal consistency for the disorders of major depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, separation anxiety disorder and overall internal consistency of PTSD and reactive attachment disorder. Internal consistency was lower for each symptom cluster of PTSD and the overall consistency of sleep disorder with Cronbach's alpha ranging between 0.54 and 0.69. Correlations between continuous scores of eight disorders of the DIPA and SDQ scales provided support for convergent validity of the DIPA. CONCLUSION: The study provides preliminary evidence to support the Danish version of DIPA as a valid measure of symptoms of young children exposed to psychological trauma. As a standardized assessment tool, the DIPA can aid in early and structured assessment of young children exposed to trauma and can help guide treatment for those in need.