Child Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms (CROPS)

Abstract

The Child Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms (CROPS) is a brief, 25-item psychological assessment instrument designed for children and adolescents to self-report the frequency and severity of symptoms associated with trauma exposure. Developed concurrently with the Parent Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms (PROPS), CROPS is intended for use in clinical settings and research to quickly screen for distress and posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) that may align with diagnostic criteria for PTSD in youth. The scale utilizes a simple 3-point rating system, making it highly accessible for children across a wide age range.

Keywords

CROPS, PROPS, posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD, child trauma, psychological assessment, symptom assessment, self-report scale, dissociation, intrusive thoughts.

Authors

Ricky Greenwald, Allen Rubin.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the CROPS is to offer a brief and efficient method for assessing the presence and severity of posttraumatic symptoms in children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. Its brevity and straightforward language make it highly suitable for initial screening and repeated administration throughout the course of therapy to monitor changes in symptom presentation and treatment efficacy.

The scale is structured to capture a broad range of distress reactions, including those related to re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, and associated emotional and somatic complaints, making it a valuable tool for clinicians working in child mental health and social work practice.

Construct

The CROPS measures the psychological construct of Posttraumatic Symptoms (PTS) as manifested in children following a traumatic event. While not a standalone diagnostic tool, the items correspond closely to the symptom clusters outlined in diagnostic manuals for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including intrusion (e.g., bad dreams, thinking about bad things), avoidance (e.g., trying to forget, avoiding reminders), and physiological arousal (e.g., jumpiness, headaches).

Furthermore, the scale captures associated symptoms often prevalent in traumatized youth, such as feelings of self-blame, hopelessness, and elements of dissociation (e.g., daydreaming, spacing out), providing a holistic picture of the child’s distress. The scale emphasizes the child’s subjective experience of these symptoms.

Validity

Preliminary validation studies by Greenwald and Rubin (1999) indicated that the CROPS possesses adequate validity for clinical and research applications. Evidence of concurrent validity was established through significant correlations between CROPS scores and scores on established measures of posttraumatic symptoms and general distress in trauma-exposed samples.

The scale demonstrated strong discriminant validity by successfully differentiating between traumatized and non-traumatized youth. Subsequent research, including cross-cultural studies (Greenwald et al., 2002), has supported its utility across diverse populations, affirming that the items effectively measure the intended construct of posttraumatic distress in children.

Reliability

The CROPS demonstrates good internal consistency, a key measure of reliability. Original studies reported high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, typically exceeding 0.90, indicating that the 25 items measure a unified underlying construct of posttraumatic distress. This high internal consistency suggests homogeneity among the items.

Additionally, the scale exhibits acceptable test-retest reliability, indicating that scores are stable over short periods in the absence of clinical intervention or further trauma exposure. This high reliability supports the use of CROPS not only for initial screening but also for measuring clinical change over time.

Factor Analysis

Initial factor analysis of the CROPS suggested that the scale primarily loads onto a strong general factor representing overall posttraumatic symptoms and psychological distress following trauma. This strong general factor supports the use of a single total score as the primary measure of severity.

While the scale is often interpreted using a total score in clinical practice, subsequent research has explored potential subscales reflecting the traditional DSM-IV and DSM-5 symptom clusters (e.g., re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal). The scale’s structure is robust enough to provide a reliable total score, which is often the most critical metric for screening and outcome measurement.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report screening measure for posttraumatic symptoms.

Format: 25 items rated on a 3-point Likert scale (0=None, 1=Some, 2=Lots).

Language Available: English (original). Translations into multiple languages have been used in research settings.

Population Group: Children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events.

Age Group: Typically school-age children, generally 8 to 17 years old.

Population Details: Used with clinically referred and community samples exposed to various forms of trauma, including abuse, neglect, accidents, and violence.

Test Methodology: Brief, quantitative assessment of the frequency and severity of symptoms experienced by the child, usually referencing a specific period (e.g., the past month).

Keywords

CROPS, PROPS, posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD, child trauma, psychological assessment, symptom assessment, self-report scale, dissociation, intrusive thoughts.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Not provided in source)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Not provided in source)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Not provided in source)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The CROPS was initially developed and validated in 1999. Information regarding permissions, usage fees, and availability can typically be found through the primary author, Ricky Greenwald, or the relevant publishing sources. The instrument is often distributed alongside the Parent Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms (PROPS). The instrument can be found at: http://www.childtrauma.com/publications/child-trauma-measures

Reference’s

• Greenwald, R., & Rubin, A. (1999). Brief assessment of children’s post-traumatic symptoms: Development and preliminary validation of parent and child scales. Research on Social Work Practice, 9, 61-75.
• Greenwald, Ricky, & Rubin, Allen. (1999). Assessment of Posttraumatic Symptoms in Children: Development and Preliminary Validation of Parent and Child Scales. Research on Social Work Practice, 9(1), 61 – 75.
• Greenwald, R., Rubin, A., Jurkovic, G. J., Wiedemann, J., Russell, A. M., O’Connor, M. B., Sarac, T., Morrell, T. R., & Weishaar, D. (2002, November). Psychometrics of the CROPS & PROPS in multiple cultures/translations. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore.
• Greenwald, R., & Rubin, A. (1999). Child Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms and Parent of Posttraumatic Symptoms (CROPS/PROPS). In Fischer, Joel., Corcoran, Kevin J. (2007). Measures for Clinical Practice and research: A sourcebook. (4th ed.). NY. Oxford University Pr. Vol. 1, Page(s): 447-450.

Items of the Child Report of Posttraumatic Symptoms (CROPS)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way. The response scale is: 0= None, 1=Some, 2=Lots.

1. I daydream
2. I “space out” when people are talking to me.
3. I find it hard to concentrate.
4. I think about bad things that have happened.
5. I try to forget about bad things that have happened.
6. I avoid reminders of bad things that have happened.
7. I worry that bad things will happen.
8. I do special things to make sure nothing bad happens.
9. I do some things that I’m probably too old for.
10. It is hard for me to go to sleep at night
11. I have bad dreams or nightmares.
12. I get headaches.
13. I get stomachaches.
14. I feel Sick or have pains.
15. I feel tired or have low energy.
16. I feel all alone.
17. I feel strange or different than other kids.
18. I feel like there’s something wrong with me.
19. I feel like it’s my fault when bad things happen.
20. I’m a jinx, or bad-luck charm.
21. I feel sad or depressed.
22. I don’t feel like doing much.
23. Things make me upset or mad.
24. I’m on the lookout for bad things that might happen.
25. I am nervous or Jumpy.