Post-traumatic reactions in children: How, why and which aspects evaluate?

Experiencing traumatic events early in life impacts the development of children and youth at different levels, affecting psychological, neurobiological and social. This article discussed the clinical evaluation of post-traumatic reactions in children and adolescents, including issues related to the manifestation of symptoms, the long-term consequences and evaluation tools available. This article presented an illustrative model of risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder in children. It was concluded that early assessment is essential for the detection of risk factors and prescription of different interventions, serving as a source of secondary prevention.