Which diagnosis involves a child reenacting trauma in play?

The diagnosis that involves a child reenacting trauma in play is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In children, one of the hallmark symptoms of PTSD is the manifestation of traumatic experiences through repetitive play themes that reflect the trauma. This behavior allows children to process their feelings and experiences related to the traumatic event.

Children may use toys or imaginative scenarios to act out the trauma, which can serve as a coping mechanism to make sense of what happened. This type of play is not merely a casual reenactment; rather, it is often intense and reflects their distress about the event. The presence of such play is one of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD in children, highlighting the connection between the disorder and the trauma they have experienced.

In contrast, other disorders such as Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder or Acute Stress Disorder may present with other symptoms and do not specifically involve reenactment of trauma in play as a defining characteristic. Adjustment Disorder involves difficulty in coping with a specific stressor and does not typically involve traumatic reenactment.