Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Understanding the Effects of Trauma and Traumatic Events to Help Prevent, Mitigate and Foster Recovery for Individuals, Organizations and Communities

A Program of Uniformed Services University, Our Nation’s Federal Medical School, Bethesda, Maryland • www. usuhs.mil/csts/

The Impact of Kidnapping, Shootingand Torture on ChildrenChildren around the world are all too
a sense of inertia on the part of official
Children around the worldoften exposed to violence that is bothagencies in responding to the needs ofintentional and harmful. Numerous
people. Simple, clear and sensitively
are all too often exposed
examples of such violence exist in theworded communication may reduce
to violence that is both
United States. School shootings havethe occurrence of such community
intentional and harmful.
traumatized many children as victims
reactions.
and as witnesses. The U.S. Departmentof Justice (USDOJ) documents 3,200–4,600 nonUseful Information
familial abductions each year. The USDOJ also reports
The following information can be useful for those whothat approximately 400,000 refugee survivors of torture
care for children exposed to coercive trauma:currently live in the United States, a significant portion ofwhich are children. The recent hostage-taking and shooting■ Trauma, in general, and coercive trauma specifically,of Amish children in Pennsylvania remind us that torture
impacts children differently than adults. Children do
occurs in the U.S. as well as in other countries.
not have the psychological mechanisms in place toLike adults, children demonstrate various stressunderstand and integrate the trauma experience. Being
responses as a result of exposure to traumatic events.
less mature, a child is more likely to be overwhelmed byStudies examining the impact of war, natural disasters, andthe experience.
terrorism highlight the negative consequences of violence■ Unlike adults, children experience trauma in the midst
on children’s development and on their psychologicalof their active development. As a result, these events arehealth.
more likely to impact their psychological growth andCertain traumatic events, such as kidnapping, shooting
their maturity.
and torture present even greater challenges to children■ Children remain dependent upon important adults andand communities. Three factors distinguish these traumas
institutions in their lives (parents, teachers, schools,from other forms of violence and make them particularly
churches, etc). The effectiveness with which these
toxic: 1) victims are typically held against their will, 2) the
individuals and agencies support children throughinjury is intentional and personally directed and 3) pain istraumatic events can significantly help support theiroften inflicted for the purposes of punishment, coercion or
psychological recovery.
perpetrator pleasure.
Brutal events involving children are particularly■ Immediately following traumatic events children andunsettling for the communities in which they occur. Adults
families may benefit from “psychological first aid.” Calmneed to be mindful and thoughtful of the developmental
reassurance, basic education about trauma response,needs of children, and advocate on behalf of these needs
and community assistance can help families feel safer
with community decision makers. In the midst of chaos,and more in control of their lives.
many decisions can unintentionally undermine the best
■ Since some children develop psychiatric disordersinterests of children’s health and wellbeing.
after trauma exposure, the psychiatric screening of all
Community outrage and frustration resulting fromchild victims of coercive trauma is essential. Periodic
such painful events can also lead to fractures between
emotional check-ups will ensure that late-emerging
community agencies. Frustration often results fromsymptoms are identified, and help promote long term,
community distress, public outrage and sometimes
healthy outcomes.
distortion about the facts of the event. There can beperceptions of unfairness in treatment of various groups, orContinued on reverse side■ Common posttraumatic responses in children include:nightmares or fears related to the trauma, avoidanceof reminders of the trauma, and repetitive play thatmimics the trauma. Anxiety or agitation may bemisperceived as behavioral problems. While symptoms
are often transient, they should be clinically treated
when they persist.
■ Multiple, treatment options have been developed for■ Violent, traumatic episodes often involve the sudden

and unexpected death of a loved one: a parent, siblingor close friend. Many health care providers are familiar
with the concept of PTSD, but fewer are aware of theconcept of traumatic grief. Health care providers must
recognize the significance of these losses, as recovery
from these events is typically much more difficult forchildren and often requires clinical attention.

traumatized children who present with symptoms ofPTSD. These treatments include initial support andstabilization, trauma exposure based interventions, andcognitive-behavioral treatments.

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Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
Tel: 301-295-2470
Fax: 301-319-6965
www.usuhs.mil/csts | www.centerforthestudyoftraumaticstress.org