Child disaster mental health interventions, part I: Techniques, outcomes, and methodological considerations.
This review of child disaster mental health intervention studies describes the techniques used in the interventions and the outcomes addressed, and it provides a preliminary evaluation of the field. The interventions reviewed here used a variety of strategies such as cognitive behavioral approaches, exposure and narrative techniques, relaxation, coping skill development, social support, psychoeducation, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and debriefing. A diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or posttraumatic stress reactions were the most commonly addressed outcomes although other reactions such as depression, anxiety, behavior problems, fear, and/or traumatic grief also were examined. Recommendations for future research are outlined.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; College of Medicine; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Oklahoma City, OK USA ; Terrorism and Disaster Center; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Oklahoma City, OK USA.
Betty
B
Pfefferbaum
Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Oklahoma City, OK USA.
Jennifer L
JL
Sweeton
Tulsa Institute of Trauma, Abuse and Neglect; Department of Psychology; University of Tulsa; Tulsa, OK USA.
Elana
E
Newman
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; College of Medicine; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Oklahoma City, OK USA ; Terrorism and Disaster Center; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Oklahoma City, OK USA.
Vandana
V
Varma
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; College of Medicine; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Oklahoma City, OK USA ; Terrorism and Disaster Center; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Oklahoma City, OK USA.
Pascal
P
Nitiéma
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; University of Miami School of Medicine; Miami, FL USA.
Jon A
JA
Shaw
Duke Child and Family Study Center; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Duke University Medical Center; Durham, NC USA.
Allan K
AK
Chrisman
Courtroom Sciences, Inc.; Irving, TX USA.
Mary A
MA
Noffsinger
children; disaster; intervention; outcomes; posttraumatic stress; posttraumatic stress disorder; research; terrorism; therapy; treatment