About 9 percent of the children who went through Hurricane Katrina are still experiencing serious emotional disturbances as a result of their trauma, according to a new study from several universities, including Virginia Tech.
- The disturbances include symptoms of inappropriate behaviors, depression, hyperactivity, eating disorders, fears, phobias, and learning disabilities.
- The children who experienced the deaths of loved ones were the most affected.
- The authors of the study recommended continued psychological treatment for children in former hurricane disaster areas in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Hurricane Katrina occurred in August 2005.
"The effects of trauma, especially on impressionable young minds, can be long-lasting and far-reaching," said Dr. Beverly
Smallwood, a psychologist. "If significant time has passed and the child or adolescent is still having problems that are disruptive to the life of the young person or the family, professional help is definitely advisable."
This study appeared in the
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Labels: trauma, mental_health, ptsd
Posted By: Aspen/CRC