Abstract

This paper has been prompted by the tragic and increasing number of traumatic incidents occurring within or close to schools. It assesses the impact on pupils of these incidents within the context of childhood post-traumatic stress disorder and provides detail about the recognition of this variation of the better-known adult form as it occurs in a school-age population. The paper includes a review of the link between childhood post-traumatic stress disorder and the child victims and/or witnesses of severely aggressive behaviour, and describes the role of educational psychologists (EPs) in respect of identification and intervention.