Children's enduring PTSD symptoms are related to their family's adaptability and cohesion.
This study compared, 18-24 months after an industrial disaster, in two groups of children (those with clinically relevant PTSD symptoms versus those with low PTSD symptoms), the child's perception of family cohesion and adaptability, the child's experience of the explosion, and parental characteristics. Enmeshed family cohesion or rigid family adaptability were more frequently found in children with low PTSD symptoms. PTSD symptoms in the mother, living in a family of 3 or more children, and being female were significantly associated with PTSD symptoms in the children. The assessment of traumatized children should include assessment of family's adaptability and cohesion.
Birmes
Philippe
P
Laboratoire du Stress Traumatique (JE 2511) Services Universitaires de Psychiatrie Hôpital Casselardit-CHU de Toulouse, 170 av. de Casselardit, Toulouse Cedex 9, France. labostresstrauma@chu-toulouse.fr
Raynaud
Jean-Philippe
JP
Daubisse
Laetitia
L
Brunet
Alain
A
Arbus
Christophe
C
Klein
Rémy
R
Cailhol
Lionel
L
Allenou
Charlotte
C
Hazane
Franck
F
Grandjean
Hélène
H
Schmitt
Laurent
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004190:Disasters; D005107:Explosions; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires