Terrorism and War: Summary of Recommendations.

 The main research gaps in the area of children exposed to war and terrorism is in determining the most effective treatments for these children, and in understanding the different consequences of exposure to war versus terrorism. A number of characteristics (besides type of trauma) are important to consider in terms of the research on mechanisms and consequences of exposure to war/terrorism. Consequences need to be considered more broadly, and secondary behavioral consequences need to be considered. Studies are needed on the psychological effects of bioterrorism on children and families and on the psychological effects of activities aimed at disaster preparedness on children. Additionally, we need to consider effects from the biological (genetics) to the existential, from neurons to neighborhoods. Another intriguing area for future research is the impact of chronic stress, especially the impact on children, including prenatal effects. It is important to develop empirically-based interventions for children and families experiencing grief and training modules to help non-mental health providers intervene in psychological crises. 

Research and models from other fields should be considered. A public health (not just mental health) model is needed that includes medical outcomes such as immune disorders, somatic disorders, and disease, as well as the influence of ethnicity and culture. Long-term and intergenerational studies (e.g., the effects of loss of fathers on families) should be considered. There is also a need for studies of resilience, determining which acute physiological responses predict long-term consequences, assessing the impact of early parent death on children, examining the role of culture and values as protective factors, and assessing the use of pharmacological treatments in children with PTSD. Research on measuring and examining resilience first requires attention to definitional issues, and then the factors that contribute to resilience, including empowerment issues. Studies are needed on how children respond in relation to their own aggression, including the risk factors for becoming future terrorists. To prevent or treat long-term negative emotional consequences of witnessing war and/or terrorism, research is needed on crisis intervention, the impact of traumatic reminders of past violence, types of therapy that might be more effective and their possible outcomes, first responders and their families, and the effects of parental factors on children’s symptoms, including intervention strategies for single parents and remaining survivors’ strategies.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Domestic Violence: Summary of Recommendations.

 Considering the limitations of existing surveys, direct investigation offers the best hope for defining, substantiating, and understanding children’s exposure to domestic violence and assessing risks and impacts over time . However, as echoed elsewhere, future progress is predicated on standard definitions and data collection, with broader and more inclusive definitions of violence, assessments of risks and history, short- and long-term impacts, and connections to services and follow-up. Population-based surveillance systems that have standard protocols and take a developmental and cultural approach are critical. Too much of what is known comes from children in shelters, thus limiting our ability to generalize. Future research directions should include building a rigorous scientific capacity in partnership with strategic sentinels across municipalities. Researchers cannot adequately assess the impact of violence, including domestic violence, obtain quality information, or de...
Read more

Responses and Discussions related to Children's Exposure to Violence.

 Barbara L. Bonner, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma  Dr. Bonner’s perspective of children exposed to violence stems from her experience working with children after the Oklahoma City bombing, victims of terrorism and natural disasters, and adolescent sex offenders who had prolonged exposure to domestic violence. She stated that in 1962, a seminal article emerged on child maltreatment , and yet in 2002 we still do not have a standard set of definitions. Definitions, however, “drive the field” and enable researchers to conceptualize the problem, as well as incidence, prevalence, and prevention strategies . Meanwhile, researchers have jumped ahead with treatment interventions without the benefit of adequate definitions. It is also important to accurately understand the complexity of the child’s experience , the child’s perceptions and attributions , and those factors that foster resilience. In terms of children exposed to domestic violence, researchers need to employ standard defin...
Read more

Prevalence of Domestic Violence.

 A. Prevalence John Fantuzzo, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania  Dr. Fantuzzo discussed research on the prevalence of children exposed to domestic violence, opening his presentation with the following question: “We see through the glass dimly and is the glass half empty or half full?” In doing so, he was referring to the substantial amount of information lacking in the field, particularly regarding violence prevention and intervention. He cautioned, however, that we should not try to obtain data too quickly, explaining that this can lead to tensions among researchers, advocates, and practitioners, and ultimately leave the field with no standard definitions, no systematic way of substantiating violence or exposure, no organized network of sentinels, and no national prevalence data. Despite the challenges of conducting population-based inquiry , several national reports and databases are attempting to address the data inadequacy problem. These resources include National Crime R...
Read more