A very timely and important question, and one that brings our minds back to the victims of war.
A few studies suggest a high degree of PTSD in children. For example, a study on Kuwati children who had lived through the Gulf War showed 70% of them had moderate to severe forms of PTSD (Nader et al, 1993 as cited in Fasfous et al, 2013).
Likewise a study (Quota et al, 2003 as cited in Fasfous et al, 2013) showed as much as 87% moderate to severe PTSD in 121 Palestinian children exposed to bombings.
One key precaution would be for the human species to outgrow its incessant need to wage war over land. Unfortunately this evolution will have to wait until our prefrontal cortices have more time to develop.
In the interim, much of the treatment may mean post-war interventions. Trauma-based CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) is the intervention of choice since it has a strong evidence base as a video featuring Dr Joan Kaufman expresses. (Childmind.org, 2022).
There are also a range of medical interventions and drugs to assist the child as they embrace the talk therapy and cognitive approach to therapy.
@ayesha naymat Absolutely. Just like you say it changes thinking patterns, and with disorders like PTSD this would be an extreme change of personality. So far we're just noting psychological impacts but if we include disorders brought about by injury such as trauma to the brain, then these personality changes could be drastic.
Whether these changes to personality are permanent might depend on therapeutic interventions and the degree of damage. Also, the age of the individual might matter.
Thanks for sharing
A very timely and important question, and one that brings our minds back to the victims of war.
A few studies suggest a high degree of PTSD in children. For example, a study on Kuwati children who had lived through the Gulf War showed 70% of them had moderate to severe forms of PTSD (Nader et al, 1993 as cited in Fasfous et al, 2013).
Likewise a study (Quota et al, 2003 as cited in Fasfous et al, 2013) showed as much as 87% moderate to severe PTSD in 121 Palestinian children exposed to bombings.
One key precaution would be for the human species to outgrow its incessant need to wage war over land. Unfortunately this evolution will have to wait until our prefrontal cortices have more time to develop.
In the interim, much of the treatment may mean post-war interventions. Trauma-based CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) is the intervention of choice since it has a strong evidence base as a video featuring Dr Joan Kaufman expresses. (Childmind.org, 2022).
There are also a range of medical interventions and drugs to assist the child as they embrace the talk therapy and cognitive approach to therapy.
References:
Fasfous, A. Ramirez, I. Garcia, M. (2013) 'Symptoms of PTSD among Children Living in War Zones in Same Cultural Context and Different Situations' in Journal of Muslim Mental Health, Volume 7 issue 2. Available at: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jmmh/10381607.0007.203/--symptoms-of-ptsd-among-children-living-in-war-zones-in-same?rgn=main;view=fulltext (Accessed: 04/03/2022)
Kaufman, J. (2022) 'What's the Best Treatment for PTSD in Children?' Available from: https://childmind.org/article/whats-the-best-treatment-for-ptsd-in-children/ (Last Accessed: 04/03/2022)