Traumatic Stress,
Hurricanes and Young Children
A study conducted at the
University of Miami School of Medicine found that preschool-age children
commonly exhibit symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after exposure
to a life-threatening hurricane. Based upon reports from mothers, 16.5% of
exposed children met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD one year after a hurricane
and 11.6% continued to exhibit PTSD symptomatology eighteen months after. The
presence of PTSD places young children at increased risk for failure to achieve
normal development in cognitive, social, and emotional skills.
Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder in America
According to the
National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 5.2 million American adults
ages 18 to 54 have PTSD.
Events Leading to PTSD
According to the
National Institute of Mental Health, the traumatic events most often associated
with PTSD for men are rape, combat exposure, and childhood neglect and physical
abuse. The most traumatic events for women are rape, sexual molestation,
physical attack, being threatened with a weapon, and childhood physical
abuse.
Paratroopers and PTSD
The results of a recent military study show that 17.4
percent of paratroopers returning from service in Iraq are suffering from
PTSD.
