Evaluation of quality of life therapy for parents of children with obsessive–compulsive disorders in Iran

Previous research has provided evidence on the effectiveness of CBT in the symptomatic improvement of children with obsessive–compulsive disorders. There is also increasing recognition of the importance of involving parents and families in treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of such an intervention that promoted family strengths [(quality of life therapy (QoLT)] for mothers of children with obsessive–compulsive disorders (OCD). The sample consisted of 40 children with OCD and their mothers, who had been referred to clinics in Esfahan city in Iran. Mothers were randomly allocated to an experimental (QoLT) and waiting list control group. Mothers participated in eight QoLT group sessions over 4 weeks. QoLT incorporated CBT techniques in managing OCD symptoms. Measures were completed pre- and post-intervention by both groups. Children completed the Yale–Brown obsession compulsion scale for Children, the Revised children's manifest anxiety scale, and the brief multidimensional student’s life satisfaction scale; mothers completed the quality of life inventory (QoLI). QoLT was associated with decrease in OCD and anxiety symptoms and increase in children's satisfaction in the global, family and environment domains, as well as with increased QoLI scores in their mothers. Parenting interventions like QoLT can complement individual modalities such as CBT in the presence of family-related difficulties. This can be particularly applicable in countries and settings with limited resources and high stigma of child mental health problems

Impact of Trauma on Palestinian Childrens and the Role of Coping Strategies

We are grateful to all the Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip for their involvement. Also, to the data collectors for their valuable input.Aims: To investigate the impact of war trauma On child mental health; the mediating role of different coping strategies. Methods: The sample was selected randomly from the five localities of the Gaza Strip that had been exposed to war16 months earlier. Children completed the Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist- 20 items-War on Gaza, UCLA PTSD scale, Birleson Depression Scale, Child Revised Manifest Anxiety Scale, and Kidcope for children. Results: Children reported many traumatic events (mean = 4). One third (32.5%) had partial and 12.4% had full criteria of PTSD. Children living in families with low family monthly income reported more emotional problems. There was significant association between exposure to traumatic events and developing PTSD. The rates of significant anxiety and depressive symptoms were 20.5% and 22.3% respectively. Girls reported significantly more depressive symptoms than boys. Children commonly used the following coping strategies: wishful thinking, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and distraction. Trauma was negatively correlated with social support and wishful thinking, and positively correlated with self-criticism. Lack of social support and wishful thinking predicted all three types of mental health problems, while social withdrawal specifically predicted depression. Conclusions: Trauma can have long-standing impact on children’s mental health. Communitybased intervention programmes could enhance children’s resilience. Parents, teachers, universal and specialist mental health practitioners have essential roles in the development and delivery of such programmes

Trauma, PTSD, and Traumatic Grief among Palestinian Children

Aim: The aim of this study was to find the relationship between war traumatic experiences due to war on Gaza, PTSD, and traumatic grief in Palestinian children. Methods: The sample included randomly selected 374 children aged 6-16 years. Children completed measures of experience of traumatic events (Gaza Traumatic Checklist), Child Post Traumatic Stress Reaction Index, and Traumatic Grief inventory. Results: Palestinians children experiences variety of traumatic events. No sex differences in reporting trauma. Mean traumatic events reported by children was 12.80 traumatic events. The study showed that 9.3% of the participants lost someone during the war. Mean traumatic grief in boys was 19.96 and 18.29 in girls. For PTSD, 1.3% of children showed no PTSD, 7.2% reported mild PTSD reactions, 29.9% showed moderate PTSD reactions, and 61.5% showed severe to very severe PTSD reactions. Trauma exposure was significantly associated with PTSD. No sex differences in PTSD. Conclusions: This study revealed that children living in area of conflict and war are at risk of developing mental health problems. Study showed that children with traumatic grief need psychosocial support from families and community to enable them of passing through their grief. Moreover, parents have to be involved in all activities given to their children and to be part of such activities to enable them better communication with their children and being able of detecting children with pathological grief and enable them of helping children in overcoming the effect of grief and trauma.We are grateful to the team who collected the data under enormous difficulties. Also, our many thanks to families and children who participated in this study, for their openness in sharing such difficult issues. Also to Mr. Khalil Megdad for his work as statistician in this study

PTSD, depression, and anxiety among Palestinian women victims of domestic violence in the Gaza Strip

Background: Domestic violence is a universal phenomenon which affects all family members and specially children and women. Common reactions to domestic violence are post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Aims: The aim of this study is to find type and severity of domestic violence against Palestinian women in the Gaza Strip, and to investigate whether it is associated with mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Methods: The study sample included 622 Palestinian women randomly selected from the five areas of the Gaza Strip aged from 18 to 50 years (mean age = 31.5 years). They were interviewed using questionnaires including Sociodemogrophic variables, Conflicts Tactics Scale, post-traumatic stress disorder scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Taylor manifestation Anxiety Scale. Results: The study showed that psychological assault was 56.91%, physical assault 37.3%, physical injury 12.06%, and sexual assault was 7.14%. The study showed that domestic violence was significantly higher in women living in villages than in cities or camps. Also, women living in villages experienced more psychological abuse than women living in cities or camps. The study showed that 71 women (11.4%) had been diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder, 15% had moderate to severe depression, and 29.9% had very severe anxiety. The study showed that psychological assault toward women was positively correlated to depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Also, there were significant positive relationships between physical assault and depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Physical injury and sexual assault were significantly positively related to post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Conclusion: The study showed that one third Palestinian women exposed to physical violence and half of them exposed to psychological violence which lead to post-traumatic stress disorder depression, and anxiety. So, a great need for more programs for women victims of domestic violence in Palestinian society are needed with well trained professionals in the field of psychological support and therapy. More specific programs should be established in Gaza to enable women of using new coping strategies with difficulties. Also, training programs including primary health care professional such physicians, nurses, social service experts, and midwives should be provide to enable them of early detection of victims of violence and provide social support to these women

Juxtaposing disadvantaged children’s insights on psychosocial help-seeking with those of service providers : lessons from South Africa and Pakistan

Children living in resource-constrained environments have high levels of unmet psychosocial needs. Through participatory focus groups, we juxtaposed the views of 55 children aged 7–10 years from resource-constrained settings in South Africa and Pakistan, with those of 96 service providers, focusing on available sources of psychosocial support. Children largely relied on individual and relational resources, with limited awareness of structural supports. Service providers focused less on children’s capacity, instead viewing schools and community-based resources as essential sources for psychosocial support. Children’s agency and capacity should be recognized and bolstered to inform service planning, community- based interventions, and systemic change.The Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies, and the National Institute of Health Research.www.tandfonline.com/journals/wcys20am2024Educational PsychologySDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Digital Social and Emotional Literacy Intervention for Vulnerable Children in Brazil: Participants’ Experiences

Social emotional literacy (SEL) interventions are widely implemented through schools, with growing evidence for a range of positive child outcomes. Increasingly, such interventions are delivered on online platforms. To date, there is limited evidence about digital SEL interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of children, parents and facilitator of the potential value of addressing SEL via tailored digital intervention. The intervention was designed to help children, in Brazil, to cope during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The intervention was delivered via a digital platform to groups of three children for 45 min per week for nine. Thirteen children, nine parents and nine facilitators were interviewed following the completion of the intervention. The data was analysed through a codebook thematic approach, which led to three themes: empowerment, participatory aspects of the intervention and digital adaptation. Overall, children’s SEL development was reported to be supported during the COVID-19 pandemic, by the application of new skills outside the sessions. Children reported a number of empowering factors such as being heard and belonging. A range of useful participatory tools were identified including storytelling, games, drawings and videos. Blended SEL interventions involving both face-to-face and web-based facilitation could be developed within a tiered model of universal mental health promotion and targeted prevention. Access to online platforms would increase reach to large numbers of children in LMIC, especially in contexts of disadvantage

Children’s perspectives of psychosocial help-seeking in Kenya

There is little knowledge on how children perceive psychosocial supports and seek help in resource-constrained settings. The aim of this study was to establish these perspectives among 22 children aged 7–10 years living in a disadvantaged community in Kenya. Children discussed available resources in response to three scenarios of common life stressors. Focus group discussions were subjected to thematic analysis. Children regularly sought internal and relational (family and peers) rather than external structural resources when faced with adversities. Their unique knowledge of their needs, environment and required supports should inform the development of interventions and services through developmentally appropriate participatory methods.Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies.https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rvch20hj2022Educational Psycholog

Children’s prolonged exposure to the toxic stress of war trauma in the Middle East

Conflict leads to toxic stress and health problems in childhood and beyond. Long term investment in evidence-informed mitigation strategies is needed to end the devastating cycles of violence.يؤدي الصراع إلى إجهاد سام ومشاكل صحية في مرحلة الطفولة وما بعدها. هناك حاجة إلى استثمار طويل الأجل في استراتيجيات التخفيف المدعومة بالأدلة لإنهاء دورات العنف المدمرة