Authors: Yonis Hakim (1) and Yousef Raslan Hakim (2), Tulane University School of Medicine, M3 (1) and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, M3 (2)
Introduction
Children in warzones during armed conflicts face various difficulties. Currently, during the most recent and ongoing devastating war in Palestine, children have been deprived of school education, which has ceased since the beginning of the war that has lasted over 3.5 months up-to-date [1]. As of the middle of January 2024, around 26,000 Palestinians have been reported killed in Gaza, of which around 70% are children and women, and around 64,000 have been reported injured, of which around 11,000 are children. In the West Bank, around 100 Palestinian children have been reported killed [1]. Given the horrendous number of casualties and injured children, warzones have serious lasting effects on children [1].
Non-Psychiatric Effects on Children
Regarding non-psychiatric effects of warzones on children, it has been reported that Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the most common cause of death [2]. Children also experience intracerebral and subdural hemorrhages and epidural hematomas [2]. These can be caused by blunt injuries due to explosives [2]. Additionally, children suffer from nutritional deficits and dental and dermatological pathologies [3]. Infections are also more likely to spread during these conflicts due to lack of clean water, nutrition, and immunizations [4]. These infections include measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus/pertussis, varicella, COVID-19, among others [4]. Also, before and after birth, there are higher rates of mortality, stillbirths, and low birth weights in these populations [5].
Psychiatric Effects on Children
Regarding the psychiatric effects of these warzones and conflicts, children are at an increased susceptibility for the development of stress due to encountering the death of family members and other tragic incidents [3]. Anxiety disorders and major depression are 2-3 times more prevalent in conflict-affected populations than the general population [3]. Children are also susceptible to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [3]. Besides these disorders, children are at an increased risk for the development of immediate stress reactions, such as apathy and dependent behavior [5].
Management of Children’s Psychological States
Regarding the management of PTSD in these vulnerable children, there have been three psychosocial interventions shown to be promising [6]. These are Teaching Recovery Techniques, Writing for Recovery, and Advancing Adolescence [6]. Teaching Recovery Techniques are lessons given by professionals to teach children about trauma and ways to deal with loss and PTSD symptoms [6]. Writing for Recovery consists of allowing children to write about their emotions and describe their traumatic experiences, and it guides children to develop positive insights from their traumatic experiences [6]. Advancing Adolescence is a two-month program that revolves around providing a safe space to children, supporting them socially, allowing them to express themselves, and providing them with group activities [6-7]. These group activities include fitness, arts, and vocational and technical skills [6-7]. Out of those psychosocial interventions, only Teaching Recovery Techniques were shown to decrease PTSD scores [6].
In addition to these psychosocial interventions, there are general approaches in the management of conflict-affected children’s psychological states. Immediate approaches include distancing the child from the area of harm, providing basic health and safety needs, and assessing the child’s psychological state [5]. It is important to provide children with a sense of safety and security [5]. This sense of security, in addition to the other aforementioned approaches, should be performed in accordance with a trauma-informed care perspective [5]. This perspective provides children with safe places, positive social interactions and relationships, and the ability to express emotions and learn how to control them [5]. This perspective aims to re-establish children’s routines from prior to the conflict so that they can have stability in their daily lives [5]. Also, a psychological assessment should be performed, and it should be individualized and centered around the needs of the child, which may differ largely from the needs of another child [5]. Following the assessment, evidence-based interventions, such as the three psychosocial interventions mentioned above, should be applied [5]. If group-based interventions are used, the sessions should be fewer and have lower participation thresholds to decrease stress during sessions [5]. These interventions should aim to build the children’s resilience [5,8].
Social and environmental conditions should also be taken into account. Humanitarian aid and sufficient medical, cultural, and educational facilities are needed for the proper development of children [5]. The facilities can be established with the aid of non-governmental organizations and should have child-friendly spaces [8]. Psychological support should also be provided to parents, if an assessment illustrates the need for support [5]. It is also recommended that physicians keep parents involved in the care of their children [5]. Parents should be informed of the progress of their children’s treatment and play a part in the decisions pertaining to the treatment [5].
To ensure proper treatment of the children, clinicians should be culturally competent and medical interpreters should be used to provide children and their families with a culturally-centered care that will build rapport [8]. Clinicians should also undergo disaster training to be adept at treating children afflicted by conflicts [8].
Conclusion
Children in warzones experience psychiatric and non-psychiatric effects that range from anxiety and depression to traumatic injuries and mortality [2-3]. To provide the best psychiatric care to children, evidence-based interventions and trauma-informed care that aim to foster resilience should be used [5,8]. The care should not be restricted to caring for children but also include improving the environment, assisting parents, and ensuring the readiness of the medical team to help the children and their families in these situations [5,8].
References
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