Assessing Children and Adolescents Exposed to Trauma.

Exposure to trauma in childhood is common. Trauma can affect brain development and have lasting physical health, emotional health, behavioral and social consequences. Symptoms related to traumatic exposure are often transdiagnostic and impact multiple dimensions of life functioning. Understanding the neurobiological, psychosocial, and structural underpinnings of trauma exposure and traumatic stress is critical to diagnosis and appropriate treatment of trauma-related symptoms. In this article, we will review trauma exposure and associated psychopathology. We will discuss current assessment approaches and identify areas for improvement.