The post-traumatic response in children and adolescents.

Mental health professionals are becoming increasingly aware of how violence--be it in the home, media, street, school, genocide, or war--can leave an indelible signature on the human psyche and on brain function and structure. They have challenging roles to play in preventing malignant memories and subduing their pernicious effects as well as examining the dramatic cascade of interactions among environment, brain, and behavior initiated by trauma.