ERIC Number: EJ949952
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Dec
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9630
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Practitioner Review: Assessment and Treatment of Refugee Children and Adolescents Who Have Experienced War-Related Trauma
Ehntholt, Kimberly A.; Yule, William
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, v47 n12 p1197-1210 Dec 2006
Background: Increasingly clinicians are being asked to assess and treat young refugees, who have experienced traumatic events due to war and organised violence. However, evidence-based guidance remains scarce. Method: Published studies on the mental health difficulties of refugee children and adolescents, associated risk and protective factors, as well as effective interventions, particularly those designed to reduce war-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, were identified and reviewed. The findings are summarised. Results: Young refugees are frequently subjected to multiple traumatic events and severe losses, as well as ongoing stressors within the host country. Although young refugees are often resilient, many experience mental health difficulties, including PTSD, depression, anxiety and grief. An awareness of relevant risk and protective factors is important. A phased model of intervention is often useful and the need for a holistic approach crucial. Promising treatments for alleviating symptoms of war-related PTSD include cognitive behavioural treatment (CBT), testimonial psychotherapy, narrative exposure therapy (NET) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR). Knowledge of the particular needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), working with interpreters, cross-cultural differences, medico-legal report writing and the importance of clinician self-care is also necessary. Conclusion: More research is required in order to expand our limited knowledge base. (Contains 1 figure, 1 table, and 1 footnote.)
Descriptors: Eye Movements, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Mental Health, Holistic Approach, Adolescents, Psychotherapy, Depression (Psychology), Children, War, Evaluation, Refugees, Outcomes of Treatment, Trauma, Violence, Intervention, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Behavior Modification, Cognitive Restructuring, Risk
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Publication Type: Information Analyses; Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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