TY - JOUR
T1 - Posttraumatic stress disorder among preschoolers exposed to ongoing missile attacks in the Gaza war
AU - Kaufman-Shriqui, Vered
AU - Werbeloff, Nomi
AU - Faroy, Michal
AU - Meiri, Gal
AU - Shahar, Danit R.
AU - Fraser, Drora
AU - Novack, Yelena
AU - Bilenko, Natalya
AU - Vardi, Hillel
AU - Elhadad, Naama
AU - Pietrzak, Robert H.
AU - Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan
PY - 2013/5
Y1 - 2013/5
N2 - Background The prevalence and manifestation of posttraumatic stress symptoms in young children may differ from that observed in adults. This study examined sociodemographic, familial, and psychosomatic correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among preschool children and their mothers who had been exposed to ongoing missile attacks in the Gaza war. Methods One hundred and sixty-seven mothers of preschoolers (aged 4.0-6.5 years) were interviewed regarding PTSD and psychosomatic symptomatology of their children, as well as their own reactions to trauma. Results Fourteen mothers (8.4%) and 35 children (21.0%) screened positive for PTSD. Sociodemographic characteristics were not associated with PTSD among mothers or children. Among children, the only significant risk factor was having a mother with PTSD (OR = 12.22, 95% CI 2.75-54.28). Compared to children who did not screen positive for PTSD, those who did screen positive displayed significantly higher rates of psychosomatic reactions to trauma, most notably constipation or diarrhea (OR = 4.36, 95% CI 1.64-11.60) and headaches (OR = 2.91, 95% CI 1.07-7.94). Conclusions Results of this study add to the burgeoning literature on child PTSD, emphasizing the important role of maternal anxiety and the psychosomatic reactions associated with exposure to ongoing traumatic experiences in young children.
AB - Background The prevalence and manifestation of posttraumatic stress symptoms in young children may differ from that observed in adults. This study examined sociodemographic, familial, and psychosomatic correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among preschool children and their mothers who had been exposed to ongoing missile attacks in the Gaza war. Methods One hundred and sixty-seven mothers of preschoolers (aged 4.0-6.5 years) were interviewed regarding PTSD and psychosomatic symptomatology of their children, as well as their own reactions to trauma. Results Fourteen mothers (8.4%) and 35 children (21.0%) screened positive for PTSD. Sociodemographic characteristics were not associated with PTSD among mothers or children. Among children, the only significant risk factor was having a mother with PTSD (OR = 12.22, 95% CI 2.75-54.28). Compared to children who did not screen positive for PTSD, those who did screen positive displayed significantly higher rates of psychosomatic reactions to trauma, most notably constipation or diarrhea (OR = 4.36, 95% CI 1.64-11.60) and headaches (OR = 2.91, 95% CI 1.07-7.94). Conclusions Results of this study add to the burgeoning literature on child PTSD, emphasizing the important role of maternal anxiety and the psychosomatic reactions associated with exposure to ongoing traumatic experiences in young children.
KW - posttraumatic stress disorder
KW - psychosomatic
KW - somatization
KW - trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84876942649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/da.22121
DO - 10.1002/da.22121
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C2 - 23620192
AN - SCOPUS:84876942649
SN - 1091-4269
VL - 30
SP - 425
EP - 431
JO - Depression and Anxiety
JF - Depression and Anxiety
IS - 5
ER -