Ko. Nader et al., A PRELIMINARY-STUDY OF PTSD AND GRIEF AMONG THE CHILDREN OF KUWAIT FOLLOWING THE GULF CRISIS, British journal of clinical psychology, 32, 1993, pp. 407-416
This preliminary study of Kuwaiti children confirms the significant im
pact of exposure to war atrocities on children. This pilot sampling pr
ovided evidence that: (1) many children who remained in Kuwait during
the occupation had multiple war-related exposures; (2) more than 70 pe
r cent of the children reported moderate to severe post-traumatic stre
ss reactions; and (3) witnessing death or injury and the viewing of ex
plicit graphic images of mutilation on television had measurable influ
ence on severity of reaction. The highest mean Child Post-Traumatic St
ress Disorder Reaction Index (CPTSD-RI) score was found for those chil
dren who reported hurting someone else. Older children had both greate
r exposure to atrocities and higher CPTSD-RI scores. Findings suggest
the need for public policy to minimize children's exposure to graphic
depictions of war-related injury, death and mutilation.