The Thomas Test is a cartoon-based instrument that measures the prevalence of PTSD in children between the ages of 6 and 12 who have experienced one or more traumatic events.
The test was developed by the Danish Center for Psychotraumatology with inspiration from Dr Richard Neugebauer's similar English test 'Darryl'. The test is also available in Greenlandic 'Miki' and Arabic 'Sami'.
The test was first used on a group of children from Seest, Denmark who experienced the fireworks disaster on 3 November 2004. The Danish Center for Psychotraumatology has subsequently developed other versions and currently has 6 different variants: violence, illness, sexual assault, refugee, fire and death.
The test itself can only be scored by a psychologist, but it can be administered by other relevant professionals.
Publications:
Løkkegaard, S. S., Jeppesen, C., & Elklit, A. (2023). Validation of the ”Darryl” PTSD cartoon test with abused children. Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, 11(1), p. 1-9. DOI: 10.2478/sjcapp-2023-0001
Løkkegaard, S.S., Rønholt, S., Karsberg, S., & Elklit, A. (2017). Validation of the PTSD screening cartoon test "Darryl" in a Danish clinical sample of children and adolescents. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 26(1), Doi: 10.1002/mpr.1514
Elklit, A., Nielsen, L.H., Lasgaard, M. & Duch, C. (2013). A Cartoon-based Measure of PTSD Symptompatology in Children Exposed to Disaster. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 18, 54-63.
Rønholt, S., Karsberg, S. & Elklit, A. (2013). Preliminary Evidence for a Classroom Based Psychosocial Intervention for Disaster Exposed Children with Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology. Journal of Research and Practice in Children's Services. Child Youth Care Forum, 42(6), 617-631. Doi: 10.1007/s10566-013-9220-3.
Laursen, H. & Elklit, A. (2009). Traumer hos børn på heldagsskolen. Psykologisk Pædagogisk Tidsskrift, 46 (1-2), 9-24.
Duch, C. & Elklit, A. (2008). Børnene i Seest. Psykolog Nyt, 62(4), 8-12.