Brief report: post-traumatic stress during emerging adulthood in survivors of pediatric cancer

OBJECTIVE: To examine post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and disorder (PTSD) among survivors of childhood cancer and comparison peers during the transition to emerging adulthood. METHOD: From elementary and middle school, we prospectively followed a cohort of 56 cancer survivors, 60 comparison peers, and their parents. Assessments were completed after the youth's 18th birthday using questionnaires and a semi-structured psychiatric interview. Healthcare providers rated treatment severity and late effects. RESULTS: Survivors and comparison peers did not differ on rates of PTSS or PTSD, but comparison peers reported more dissociative experiences than survivors. Late effects were associated with a greater number of past PTSS. Of the 16 cancer survivors who reported a traumatic event, five (31%) were cancer-related. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of PTSS were similar for survivors and comparison peers. Research with other potentially traumatic diseases or treatments (e.g., amputations, brain tumors) is needed. The role of methodology and contextual factors in the assessment of PTSS/PTSD is discussed.