Development and preliminary results of the International Trauma Exposure Measure for children and adolescents (ITEM-CA)

Background. The need for children's assessment of traumatic exposure has been an extraordinary field of research that provided relevant knowledge on the impact of traumatic events. Mainly in severe or specific traumatic events, data have been gathered with several instruments. However, the use of these instruments in low risk samples pose an ethical reflection if generating a dangerous world assumption in children can have important negative side effects. Objective. This paper intends to present preliminary results of a questionnaire targeting assessment of traumatic exposure, safe as possible for low risk children aged between 7 and 13. It intends also to reflect its construction process within the aims of assuring competent epidemiological research while counterbalancing dangerous world assumptions by children and youth in low risk samples.Method. This new Likert scale has four levels based on frequency of exposure and was developed considering the potential negative impact of each item. Several researchers, victims and organizations discussed each item considering its meaning, degree of activation on non-exposed children and linguistic adequacy. The structure is based on International Trauma Exposure Measure for adults but differentiating contexts of exposure: family/care and school/community.Results. The final version of the scale has 36 items related to traumatic or adverse events exposure and a final item to reflect in positive life events.Conclusions. There is a special question about need for help, which may provide a safe way for professional support. Preliminary results from the Portuguese dataset are presented and discussed.