Children's Impact of Traumatic Events Scale-Revised (CITES-2)

(Wolfe et al., 1991)

Description:

The CITES-2 (2002) is the most recent version of the CITES, a 78-item clinician-administered scale developed to assess the effects of sexual abuse on youths between the ages of 8 and 16 years old. It is designed as a continuous measure to assess but can be used to determine diagnostic status. Items are rated on a 3 point Likert scale (“not true”, “somewhat true”, “very true”). The CITES-R is comprised of 4 main scales and 11 subscales: (1) PTSD (Intrusive Thoughts, Avoidance, Hyperarousal, and Sexual Anxiety); (2) Social Reactions (Negative Reactions from Others and Social Support); (3) Abuse Attributions (Self-Blame and Guilt, Empowerment, Personal Vulnerability, and Dangerous World); and (4) Eroticism.

Sample Items:

Some people believe that I did a very bad thing.
This happened to me because I acted in a way that caused it to happen.
I have difficulty concentrating because I often think about what happened.

0 = Not true
1 = Somewhat true
2 = Very true

Versions:

In addition to the CITES-2, the 25-item CITES-Family Violence Form (CITES-FVF) assesses the effects of family violence on the child.

References:

Wolfe, V. V., Gentile, C., Michienzi, T., Sas, L., Wolfe, D. A. (1991). The Children's Impact of Traumatic Events Scale: a measure of post-sexual abuse PTSD symptoms. Behavioral Assessment, 13, 359–383.

Additional Reviews:

Ohan, J. L., Myers, K., Collett, B. R. (2002). Ten-year review of rating scales. IV: scales assessing trauma and its effects. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 1401-22.

To obtain scale, contact:

Vicky V. Wolfe, PhD
Department of Psychology
London Health Sciences Center
London, Ontario, Canada N6A 4G5
Email: Vicky.Wolfe@LHSCONCA