N Laor1, L Wolmer, D J Cohen. 1. Tel Aviv-Community Mental Health Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. nlaor@netvision.net.il
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The authors assessed the long-term consequences of the SCUD missile attack in Israel on children as a function of their mothers' psychological functioning, family cohesion, and the event itself. METHOD: Five years after the Gulf War, the authors assessed the internalizing, externalizing, stress, and posttraumatic symptoms of 81 children aged 8-10 years whose homes were damaged in the SCUD missile attack, as well as general and posttraumatic symptoms, defensive style, and object relations in their mothers. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in severity in most symptom domains and an increase in avoidant symptoms in the children. Greater severity of symptoms was associated with being displaced, living in a family with inadequate cohesion, and having a mother with poor psychological functioning. The association between the symptoms of children and mothers was stronger among the younger children. Posttraumatic symptoms increased in one-third of the children and decreased in one-third over the last 30 months of the study. Severe posttraumatic symptoms were reported in 8% of the children. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a continuous decrease in symptom severity, risk factors identified shortly after the Gulf War continued to exert their influence on children 5 years after the traumatic exposure.
OBJECTIVE: The authors assessed the long-term consequences of the SCUD missile attack in Israel on children as a function of their mothers' psychological functioning, family cohesion, and the event itself. METHOD: Five years after the Gulf War, the authors assessed the internalizing, externalizing, stress, and posttraumatic symptoms of 81 children aged 8-10 years whose homes were damaged in the SCUD missile attack, as well as general and posttraumatic symptoms, defensive style, and object relations in their mothers. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in severity in most symptom domains and an increase in avoidant symptoms in the children. Greater severity of symptoms was associated with being displaced, living in a family with inadequate cohesion, and having a mother with poor psychological functioning. The association between the symptoms of children and mothers was stronger among the younger children. Posttraumatic symptoms increased in one-third of the children and decreased in one-third over the last 30 months of the study. Severe posttraumatic symptoms were reported in 8% of the children. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a continuous decrease in symptom severity, risk factors identified shortly after the Gulf War continued to exert their influence on children 5 years after the traumatic exposure.
Authors: Eric F Dubow; L Rowell Huesmann; Paul Boxer; Simha Landau; Shira Dvir; Khalil Shikaki; Jeremy Ginges Journal: J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol Date: 2012-05-17
Authors: Kara M Lindstrom; Donald J Mandell; George J Musa; Jennifer C Britton; Lindsey S Sankin; Karin Mogg; Brendan P Bradley; Monique Ernst; Thao Doan; Yair Bar-Haim; Ellen Leibenluft; Daniel S Pine; Christina W Hoven Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2010-10-20 Impact factor: 3.222