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Development of Functional Symptoms in Children Exposed to Traumatic Events

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Functional Symptoms in Pediatric Disease

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Abstract

This chapter will review the typical symptoms occurring in children after stressful traumatic exposures. Unlike other chapters in this book, no specific organ system is the most likely focus of functional symptoms in this setting. Psychological distress may exacerbate symptoms of physical illness and injury associated with the traumatic events, may be expressed as almost any seemingly unrelated symptom, may intensify the age appropriate fears typical of any child, or may predominantly be exhibited behaviorally. In most nonsevere cases, the impact is self-limited and the individual’s functioning will be back to normal within days or weeks. We will suggest simple behavioral and environmental interventions intended to help relieve children’s distress. However, when large populations are affected and individuals suffer severe loss such as in a mass casualty disaster, the scale of events requires community-wide efforts to meet the needs of children and their families. The fact that some children are more psychosocially vulnerable than others will be discussed. The chapter will conclude by highlighting warning signs warranting professional mental health care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA

    Paula A. Madrid PsyD

  2. Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, 750 E. Adams Street, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Robert K. Kanter MD

Authors
  1. Paula A. Madrid PsyD
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  2. Robert K. Kanter MD
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Correspondence to Robert K. Kanter MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Ran D. Anbar

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Madrid, P.A., Kanter, R.K. (2014). Development of Functional Symptoms in Children Exposed to Traumatic Events. In: Anbar, R. (eds) Functional Symptoms in Pediatric Disease. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8074-8_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8074-8_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-8073-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-8074-8

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