[Author Affiliation]Victor Fornari. Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, New York.ISBN 978-1-58562-426-3. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, 2012. 243 pages.Address correspondence to: Victor Fornari, MD, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, 75-59 263rd Street, Glen Oaks, New York 11004, E-mail: vfornari@nshs.eduHow does one respond to an 8-year-old child in the emergency room who has just survived a plane crash and who asks Am going to die? How does it feel to listen to that 8-year-old child describe the harrowing details of her frantic search for her mother after she survived the plane crash, I am afraid my mommy is dead.Although childhood is often characterized as a carefree and happy time, it is estimated that between one quarter and two thirds of children are exposed to a traumatic event prior to adulthood. Not a day goes by without news of natural disasters, terrorism, crime, or war somewhere in the world; these events are often associated with life threat, and their psychological impact on children and their parents can be devastating. Fortunately, the medical community can refer to Care of Children Exposed to the Traumatic Effects of Disaster to learn about the psychological impact of disasters, stress, and trauma on children. This compelling text describes the typical psychological responses to trauma at each developmental level, in addition to the significance of trauma coupled with bereavement.How does the material in this book translate into meaningful intervention for children? By educating the community (including volunteers and mental health and primary care clinicians), about the significance of trauma on a child's life, it facilitates an appreciation of what to look for and how to intervene. Until cared for the 8-year-old girl who survived a plane crash (Webb 1991) did not fully understand the role that the disaster mental health provider serves. Until listened to the stories of countless victims of traumatic experiences, did not fully appreciate the various ways in which children and adolescents cope. Although have come to expect resiliency, have developed a keener respect for the diverse ways in which prior life experiences impact the response to current traumatic events.Do mental health providers recognize the importance of understanding this information? By describing the impact of trauma on youth, this volume serves as a guide for appropriate therapeutic interventions for a traumatized child or family. Psychological reactions to chronic ongoing stress in the life of a child or adolescent may differ from the reactions to acute stress. A clear distinction between the definition of acute and chronic stressors is provided. This facilitates an understanding of the range of therapeutic responses that should be offered by a helping professional depending upon the circumstance. The importance of differentiating among traumatic events, traumatic reminders, and cumulative risk helps the clinician recognize and understand the impact of specific types of traumas on the child, and informs treatment planning.Did families ignoring evacuation warnings understand the possible life-threatening impact on them and their children? Hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes are but three examples of natural disasters that cause devastation and traumatic impact on youth. It is appropriate, therefore, that natural and human-generated disasters are described here to clarify the scope and scale of an event, and its psychological effects on the pediatric population. For example, human-generated disasters can be either intentional or unintentional. Each has a different meaning. Intentional events elicit a particularly unique outrage. Multidimensional disasters combine features of natural, as well as human-generated unintentional disasters. Understanding each of these categories and their varied implications enables the clinician to recognize and appreciate appropriate interventions needed to begin the process of healing. …
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