Psychiatrists suggest child mind care After facing a violent incident
When a child has an unexpected bad experience Be with them for a long time Will have severe physical and mental effects As a result, the child is fascinated. Causing mental illness
The mental health of the parents of the child expresses anxiety. Post-incident depression can play a role in the development of PTSD in children.
Dr. Varisa Kanjanachaiyaphum, MD, Pediatrician in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Samitivej Srinakarin Children's Hospital stated that the disease or symptoms of mental disorders after experiencing severe situations. Including various dangers The medical community called PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is a state of mental illness after having to face a severe trauma event. Unexpected serious events, dangerous situations that threaten the life of that person or others. Despite having to become a person directly faced with the event Or may have seen as a witness to acknowledge the event Including the loss of loved ones in that event Resulting in a great deal of stress Because the incident was severe enough to cause symptoms and difficulties in adapting. These events are not typical extinction stress. But an event that is more violent than usual, including
- Various natural disasters, floods, earthquakes
- Fatal accident Including the disasters among the
- Rebellion to face war
- The murder of a loved one, committing suicide
- Sexual assault, such as rape, torture.
- A child in a violent family or home
The symptoms of PTSD are symptoms that can occur in all genders and ages and consists of four topics.
- Think in that event (Re-experiencing) Thinking around the same event repeatedly. Or sometimes recall those terrible memories themselves It makes me feel like I have to be in that event over and over again until I panic (Flashback) dream of those events repeatedly. Or have physical and mental reactions when encountering symbols Things or situations similar to past events
- Fear and avoid (Avoidance) fear of places or situations after an incident. Avoid thinking and feeling about things that are connected to the event. Shall not face external stimuli that will bring about the event, such as fear of place, situation, activity, conversation.
- Negative alteration of cognition and mood is the absence of positive emotions. Not happy and not interested in participating in that activity Feeling separate from others Persistently negative beliefs and expectations There is a negative extended interpretation. Some people are unable to remember the main part of the event, and may have distorted thoughts from the causes and consequences of the incident. Such thoughts lead to self-blame and others. As a result, there is a negative impression of being angry, shy, shy, feeling guilty all the time.
- Shock and fear Hyperarousal symptoms are symptoms of watchfulness, alertness, alertness, and often symptoms of irritability, easily frightened, easily angry, as well as being easily startled and shocked by loud noises. Resulting in a lack of concentration Insomnia, difficulty sleeping, or prefers to wake up while sleeping
If after 4 weeks of the worst incidents and symptoms still persist Or some cases where symptoms occur later Such symptoms will affect the study, work and daily life worse.
Factors indicating that children May be in PTSD
- The severity received
- How much does the incident mean to the patient?
- The length of time the event has been experienced
- Personality and way of coping with the patient's stress state
- Child age
- An old experience that I have had before
- Conducive environment
- Lack of support from the surrounding society
- Children are constantly faced with psychosocial hardships.
The mental health of the parents of the child expresses anxiety. Post-incident depression can play a role in the development of PTSD in children, including the lack of support for parents. Not encouraging Not kid friendly Forced parenting
Is PTSD a symptom that requires treatment or not?
Supportive treatment is something that should be given priority and act promptly. Especially the symptoms that occur in the first period Because if ignoring, neglecting, not treating or giving assistance is slow, it will make the child become a chronic patient for a long time.
What should I do when I take care of PTSD?
- Keep an eye on your psychological symptoms.
- Restore the community to normal as soon as possible.
- Screening for signs, behavior and symptoms of the child
- Assess the degree of disability in life of the sufferer to look for possible co-psychiatric disorders, which are:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorder
- Phobia
- Use of alcohol, drugs
(Where parents are strongly required to participate in the assessment)
How to treat PTSD
Psychological treatment Consisting of psychotherapy Which has a variety of methods
1. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Therapy explores and talks to children about the incident. By suggesting ways to feel relaxed in the face of frightening things Change in beliefs and distorting thoughts about the symptoms or events. Trained to control your thoughts and to deal with your emotions. With parents participating To build understanding by educating parents about the events the child has encountered and the possible reactions that may follow. As well as providing the parental skills in helping to correct the inappropriate behavior of children
2. Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) individual psychotherapy.
- Parents are involved in the treatment. Child-Parental Psychotherapy, Family Therapy is a joint survey, correction of the mind, emotions and finding appropriate ways that parents can help their child.
- To change and correct the environment is to educate teachers, parents, pediatric patients, and related persons about PTSD in pediatric psychiatry through joint prognosis. Planning for the family to meet and live together quickly. Organizing activities in school for children to go to normal as soon as possible. Secure housing There is a system to prevent recurrence of disasters. Including the restoration of the community
Drug treatment
Currently, the use of SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) drugs such as Sertraline, Paroxetine has been shown to be effective in adults. There is a lack of information to support research in children. Therefore, drug use in children and adolescents should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Recommendations in child psychiatry When PTSD symptoms occur in children
- The primary caregiver Of children pay more attention to responsiveness Encourage children to listen to comfort and make them feel confident about their safety. Make sure he has a moderator Protect and have refuge
- Avoid interviews that do not affect treatment. Or interviews for presenting news
- Do not let children suffer. Must keep telling stories over and over
- Do not repeat the accusation in a blame, causing the child to feel guilty. Rather, it gives the child an opportunity to talk about the areas the child wants to talk about and how they feel about the event.
- Try to get the child to do normal activities in order to gradually bring him back to his original state. With adults or parents to always take care of and encourage Because parents are important to help treat symptoms or disease from that event well
