Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children

Izlaganje traumatskim događajima utječe na mentalno zdravlje ljudi te može dovesti do posttraumatskog stresnog poremećaja (PTSP-a). U ovom završnom radu bit će prikazan PTSP kod djece kao najranjivije skupine društva. U radu će biti riječi o reakcijama djece na stres, metodama suočavanja sa stresom, pojavi PTSP-a kod djece, povezanosti PTSP-a s događajima kao što su rat, ratna zbivanja, nasilje, zlostavljanje, prirodne katastrofe te teške bolesti. Simptomi PTSP-a kod djece najčešće su repetitivna igra s temom traume, gubitak nedavno stečenih razvojnih vještina, stjecanje uvjerenja da budući životni ciljevi neće biti ostvarivi, izraženi psihički i fizički simptomi kao što su anksioznost ili pak bolovi u želucu. S obzirom da PTSP nema utjecaj samo na osobe kojima je dijagnosticiran, prikazana je i sekundarna traumatizacija djece, a na kraju i metode liječenja te uloga socijalnog radnika kao člana multidisciplinarnog tima.Exposure to traumatic events affects mental health and can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This paper will cover the topic of PTSD with a special focus on children as the most vulnerable social group. The topics such as child’s reaction to stress, methods of coping with stress, occurrence of PTSD in children, the correlation between PTSD and various events such as war, violence, abuse, natural disasters, and serious illnesses will all be covered in this paper. PTSD symptoms in children may include child’s loss of newly acquired developmental skills, the belief that future life goals will not be achievable, playing repetitive games that are connected with the trauma, as well as mental and physical symptoms such as anxiety or stomach pain. Given that PTSD does not only have an effect on those diagnosed with PTSD, the secondary traumatization of children has also been presented. Lastly, the paper will deal with some of the possible treatment methods and the role of social worker as member of a multidisciplinary team