Children's Drawings and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Call for Participation in a National Study

Cathy A. Malchiodi, PhD [c], ATR-BC, LPCC, National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children [TLC]   www.tlcinst.org  

Attention Mental Health Professionals, & Graduate Students! Consider participating in a national study to develop a simple assessment to determine if children are at risk for PTSD or other trauma reactions. You will be using two measures in this assessment. The first is the Human Figure Drawing (HFD), a drawing commonly requested by art therapists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals. The second measure is a widely used paper and pencil PTSD reaction index for children. Before you collect data for this research project, you will need to be able to complete four items:

•  Obtain permission from the site at which you will see child clients to collect drawings and assessment information.

•  Obtain a signed consent from a parent or guardian (you will be provided with an approved form).

•  Obtain a signed child assent form from the child participant (you will be provided with an approved form).

•  Obtain basic demographics information (gender, age, ethnicity) for each child participant (you will be provided with an approved form).

If you choose to participate, you may collect as many drawings and index results as you can; anywhere from 5 to 10 samples would be optimal, but more are welcome. Each assessment takes about 15 minutes, depending on the child. Trauma specialists who participate will receive the preliminary results of the study and will be cited for their contributions to the research in subsequent publications. Graduate students are encouraged to participate and use this protocol for your thesis or culminating project for your degree, with permission of your academic advisors.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact Cathy Malchiodi at the link below or contact National TLC directly at www.tlcinst.org or 877-306-5256. You will be sent an electronic file with the protocol for the drawing task and a copy of the trauma index; you can also receive the material by snail mail if you prefer.

© 2009 Cathy Malchiodi

Contact