Under-Age Children Returning From Jihadist Group Operation Areas: How Can We Make a Diagnosis and Construct a Narrative With a Fragmentary Anamnesis?

This article presents psychometric characteristics of the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM IV (PTSD-RI) derived from a large sample of children and adolescents (N = 6,291) evaluated at National Child Traumatic Stress Network centers. Overall mean total PTSD-RI score for girls was significantly higher as compared with boys. Age-related differences were found in that overall mean total PTSD-RI scores and within sex groups were higher among those aged 7-9 years and 16-18 years. There were no significant differences in mean total PTSD-RI scores across racial/ethnic groups. The PTSD-RI total scale displayed good to excellent internal consistency reliability across age ranges, sex, and racial/ethnic groups (α = .88-.91). Correlations of PTSD-RI scores with PTS subscale scores on the TSCC-A for the entire sample and within sex, age, and ethnic/racial groups provided evidence of convergent validity, although not discriminant validity. In contradistinction to previously reported 4-factor models, an exploratory factor analysis revealed 3 factors that mostly reflected the underlying dimensions of PTSD in DSM IV. PTSD-RI scores were associated with increased odds ratios for functional/behavior problems (odds ratio [OR] = 1-1.80). These findings are striking in light of the wide range of trauma exposures, age, and race/ethnicity among subjects. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

It has been suggested that a unique feature of some mental heath practitioners' work is exposure through their role as therapists to clients' descriptions of and reactions to trauma, and that these experiences may actually indirectly cause distress and traumatization to the therapist. This proposed phenomenon has been termed "vicarious traumatization" (VT) and is the focus of the current review. The concept of VT, together with other related concepts such as "burnout," "compassion fatigue," "secondary traumatic stress" (STS), and "work stress" are appraised. Psychological mechanisms that might be theoretically involved in VT are considered. The measurement of VT is reviewed alongside the limited research evidence supporting its existence. Factors such as direct trauma exposure and the personal attributes of mental health workers, which have been suggested to be associated with VT, are also assessed. It is concluded that the evidence to support the existence of VT is meager and inconsistent. Future research needs to be directed at distinguishing VT from other sources of distress arising within the workplace. Finally, the organizational relevance of VT and its possible implications for the management of mental health workers are critically appraised.

Culturally safe service delivery is critical in enhancing personal empowerment and, as a result, should promote more effective and meaningful pathways to self determination for Indigenous people. Little has been said about encouraging people from Indigenous groups into the health and education discipline(s) to help provide a safe environment which includes cultural safety. This is a phrase originally coined by Maori nurses which means that there is no assault on a person's identity. The people most able or equipped to provide a culturally safe atmosphere are people from the same culture. We need to move on from the 'short term, cost effective, quick fix' approach to Indigenous issues, driven by economic imperatives, the clamouring of industry and conservative, hegemonic practices. To genuinely address the challenges of Indigenous health and education, the issue of cultural safety cannot be avoided. Critical reflection on experiential knowledge and defining or framing a debate on cultural safety is essential. This paper briefly examines some considerations for work practice.