Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Trauma exposure in pre-school children in a war zone
- Authors:
- THABET Abel Aziz Mousa, KARIM Khalid, VOSTANIS Panos
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(2), February 2006, pp.154-158.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study investigates the relationship between exposure to war trauma and behavioural and emotional problems among pre-school children. A total of 309 children aged 3–6 years were selected from kindergartens in the Gaza Strip, and were assessed by parental reports in regard to their exposure to war trauma, using the Gaza Traumatic Checklist, and their behavioural and emotional problems, using the Behaviour Checklist (BCL) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results found that pre-school children were exposed to a wide range of traumatic events. The total number of traumatic events independently predicted total BCL and SDQ scores. Exposure to day raids and shelling of the children’s houses by tanks were significantly associated with total behavioural and emotional problems scores. The authors conclude that direct and non-direct exposure to war trauma increases the risk of behavioural and emotional problems among pre-school children, which may present as non-specific psychopathology.
Post traumatic stress disorder reactions in children of war: a longitudinal study
- Authors:
- THABET Abel Azia, VOSTANIS Panos
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 24(2), February 2000, pp.291-298.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This article aims to establish rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reactions and general mental health problems in children who had experienced war trauma. Concludes the reactions tend to decrease in the absence of further stressors, although a substantial proportion of children still present with a range of emotional and behavioural problems. Cumulative previous experience of war trauma constitutes a risk factor for continuing PTSD symptoms.
Protective factors based model for screening for posttraumatic distress in adolescents
- Authors:
- PAT-HORENCZYK Ruth, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Youth Care Forum, 43(3), 2014, pp.339-351.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Background: There is growing application of school-based screening to identify post-traumatic distress in students following exposure to trauma. The consensus method is based on self-report questionnaires that assess posttraumatic symptoms, functional impairment, depression or anxiety. Objective: The current research explored the possibility of using a model, based on the assessment of protective factors, as a screening method for identifying youth who may suffer from posttraumatic distress and need professional help in the aftermath of war. Method: Participants were 482 Israeli high-school students who were exposed to ongoing missile attacks during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008. The data collected included symptom scales and three protective factor scales assessing perceived self-efficacy, cognitive-emotion regulation and flexibility in the use of various coping strategies. Results: The results showed that all three protective factors were significant predictors of symptom severity. The protective-factor-based model utilized logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics analysis. The model correctly classified 84 % of adolescents presenting with probable post traumatic stress disorder, identifying them as distressed. Cross-validation was conducted to assess the stability and reliability of the model, which were found to be acceptable. Conclusion: The protective factors based model could be important as a part of preliminary triage before referral for intervention and for identification of distressed adolescents. School based screening which focuses on assessing protective factors may facilitate cooperation by both adolescent students and the education system. (Publisher abstract)
The psychological impact of the Israel–Hezbollah war on Jews and Arabs in Israel: the impact of risk and resilience factors
- Authors:
- PALMERI Patrick A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 67(8), October 2008, pp.1208-1216.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Although there is abundant evidence that mass traumas are associated with adverse mental health consequences, few studies have used nationally representative samples to examine the impact of war on civilians, and none have examined the impact of the Israel–Hezbollah War, which involved unprecedented levels of civilian trauma exposure from July 12 to August 14, 2006. The aims of this study were to document probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), determined by the PTSD Symptom Scale and self-reported functional impairment, in Jewish and Arab residents of Israel immediately after the Israel–Hezbollah War and to assess potential risk and resilience factors. A telephone survey was conducted August 15–October 5, 2006, following the cessation of rocket attacks. Stratified random sampling methods yielded a nationally representative population sample of 1200 adult Israeli residents. The rate of probable PTSD was 7.2%. Higher risk of probable PTSD was associated with being a woman, recent trauma exposure, economic loss, and higher psychosocial resource loss. Lower risk of probable PTSD was associated with higher education. The results suggest that economic and psychosocial resource loss, in addition to trauma exposure, have an impact on post-trauma functioning. Thus, interventions that bolster these resources might prove effective in alleviating civilian psychopathology during war.
Psychiatry, testimony, and Shoah: reconstructing the narratives of the muted
- Authors:
- GREENWALD Baruch, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 43(2/3), 2006, pp.199-214.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
A 1999 examination of some 5,000 long stay psychiatric patients in Israel identified 725 as Holocaust (Shoah) survivors. This review shows that these patients had not been treated as a unique group, and that their trauma-related illnesses had been neglected. Many had never openly shared their histories. Twenty-six patients at two institutions agreed to be interviewed, with the proceedings videotaped, and the main aim of the study was to investigate the role of video testimony as a potentially useful psychotherapeutic intervention. Three case examples illustrate the horror of their experiences and indicate how knowledge and recognition of them could have influenced their later treatment for the better. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Psychological symptomatology among Palestinian male and female adolescents living under political violence 2004–2005
- Authors:
- AL-KRENAWI Alean, LEV-WIESEL Rachel, SEHWAIL Mahmud A.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 43(1), February 2007, pp.49-56.
- Publisher:
- Springer
The aim of the study was to investigate gender differences in relation to exposure to domestic violence, political violence, family relations and psychological symptomatology in Palestinian adolescents. The sample consisted of 1766 adolescents, males (54.1%) and females (45.9%), residents of West Bank cities subjected to violent political conflict. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of the following measures: demographic variables, domestic violence, political violence events, the McMaster Family Assessment Device, and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) psychological symptomatology. Results indicated that whereas there was no significant difference in the level of exposure to political violence between boys and girls, female adolescents exhibited higher levels of psychological symptoms compared to their male counterparts. Girls also reported higher levels of exposure to domestic violence and lower levels of family function than boys.