Introduction: Exposure to traumatic events during childhood is associated with the development of psychiatric disorders in adulthood and cognitive impairment. Higher IQ scores have been suggested as a protective factor for psychopathology. Also, the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is important for neuroplasticity and neuroprotection. Objective: To examine cognitive function and psychiatric diagnosis in children victims of trauma compared to controls matched for age and gender. In addition, we examined the correlation of serum BDNF levels with clinical variables. Methods: we recruited twenty-seven children with childhood trauma and 27 matched controls. The evaluation included a socio-demographic protocol, cognitive tests and a diagnostic interview of psychiatric disorders according to DSM-IV. Serum BDNF levels were assessed with ELISA Kit. Results: Preliminary analysis showed a high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in those with childhood trauma (64%). Children with psychiatric symptoms showed lower IQ scores when compared to those without (92.67 ± 8.42 vs 102.86 ± 11.12, p = 0.027). Those with childhood trauma showed poorer performance in digit span of WISC-III when compared to controls (6,8 ± 3,1 vs 8,6 ± 2,4, p=0,05), suggesting attention impairment. There was no correlation between IQ and serum levels of BDNF (r = 0.08, p = 0.72). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children victims of trauma and this seems to be associated with worse cognitive performance. However, this association seems not to be mediated by changes in serum levels of BDNF in this sample.