Post-traumatic stress reactions in children of war

J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1999 Mar;40(3):385-91.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to estimate the rate of post-traumatic stress reactions in Palestinian children who experienced war traumas, and to investigate the relationship between trauma-related factors and PTSD reactions. The sample consisted of 239 children of 6 to 11 years of age. Measures included the Rutter A2 (parent) and B2 (teacher) scales, the Gaza Traumatic Event Checklist, and the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index. Of the sample, 174 children (72.8%) reported PTSD reactions of at least mild intensity, while 98 (41%) reported moderate/severe PTSD reactions. Caseness on the Rutter A2 scale was detected in 64 children (26.8%), which correlated well with detection of PTSD reactions, but not with teacher-detected caseness. The total number of experienced traumas was the best predictor of presence and severity of PTSD. Intervention programmes for post-war children need to be evaluated, taking into account developmental and cultural aspects, as well as characteristics of the communities involved.

MeSH terms

  • Arabs* / psychology
  • Arabs* / statistics & numerical data
  • Behavioral Symptoms / epidemiology
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Regression Analysis
  • Sampling Studies
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology
  • Violence / psychology*
  • Warfare*