Associations between children's trauma-related sequelae and skin conductance captured through mobile technology. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wiltshire, Charis N.; Wanna, Cassandra P.; Stenson, Anaïs F.; Minton, Sean T.; Reda, Mariam H.; Davie, William M.; Hinrichs, Rebecca; Winters, Sterling; France, John M.; Jovanovic, Tanja
• Is Part Of: Behaviour research and therapy. Volume 150(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Assessment/diagnosis -- Child/adolescent -- Computer/internet technology -- Cost-effectiveness -- Ethnicity/race -- Life events/stress -- PTSD/Posttraumatic stress disorder -- Trauma; Cognitive therapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-7967

Abstract

Abstract: Although many children experience trauma, few receive diagnoses and subsequent care despite experiencing trauma-related sequelae. At age nine (M = 9.11), children (N = 62; female = 46.4%) who predominantly identified as Black (78.7%) were enrolled in this first study examining how skin conductance as captured by mobile technology, eSense, related to children's traumatic experiences and trauma-related symptoms. Skin conductance measures were associated with degree of trauma exposure and PTSD hyperarousal symptoms. These findings suggest that physiological responses in addition to self-report measures may be easily used to assess children's trauma exposure and symptoms. Given eSense's ease-of-use, this technology could assist clinics and research institutions assess children's trauma-related needs. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A low-cost, user-friendly device can reliably record changes in skin conductance. Children's trauma exposure and symptoms predict physiological responses. Clinicians can use physiology to provide further potential insight from self-report alone. Skin conductance allows medical staff to identify children suffering from trauma.