Childhood trauma and maltreatment

Meet the patient

A 13-year-old is referred to CAMHS for "ADHD, query oppositional". She is inattentive at school, explosive at home, and has been cutting her forearms for six months. Her mother is exhausted and wants a stimulant trial.^[4][12]

Seen alone, she tells you the nightmares started when her mother's ex-partner moved in three years ago, that she still sees him at weekends, and that her nine-year-old brother is in the house.^[4][12]

Three exam questions are now live: is this trauma or a neurodevelopmental disorder?, does this meet the reporting threshold today?, and who else in that house is unprotected? Everything below answers those three.^[4][7][12]

References22ShowHide

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