Family functioning, coping, and psychological adjustment in victims and their families following kidnapping.

This study examines the psychological aftereffects of economic extortive kidnapping on families during captivity, and on kidnapped individuals and family members, 2-4, 5-8, and 9-15 months after the release. Fifty-five kidnapped and released individuals and 158 family members were evaluated through CAPS-DX, SCL90-R, FAD, F-COPES, and a family interview. Captivity was the most stressful period with the highest CAPS and general distress scores. There were no significant differences in psychological distress or in PTSD between the 3 time groups after the release or between kidnapped individuals and their relatives. Correlations among family functioning, coping, and psychological adjustment, during captivity and after the release were analyzed.