This pilot study evaluated the ability of a companion recovery model to decrease the effects of profound catastrophic trauma in 130 male and female former child soldiers in Liberia, West Africa. This 2-week intervention model was field-tested to determine its ability to reduce the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clinical Assessment of PTSD Scale was used to evaluate pretreatment and posttreatment symptoms of PTSD. Results showed a significant reduction (p ≤ .001) in PTSD symptoms by 33%. Early findings suggest that the model may be helpful in reducing the symptoms of trauma in former child soldiers.
Acierno, R., Rheingold, A.A., Resnick, H.S., & Stark-Riemer, W. (2004). Preliminary evaluation of a video-based intervention for older adult victims of violence. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 17, 535-541.
2.
Bayer, C.P., Klasen, F., & Adam, H. (2007). Association of trauma and PTSD symptoms with openness to reconciliation and feelings of revenge among former Uganda and Congolese child soldiers. Journal of the American Medical Association , 298, 567-568.
3.
Beah, I. (2007). A long way gone. New York: Sarah Crichton.
4.
Becker, D. (2005). Dealing with the consequences of organized violence in trauma work. Berlin, Germany: Berghoff Research Center for Constructive Conflict Management.
5.
Berceli, D. (2006). Trauma Recovery Assessment Prevention Services . Retrieved 2006, from http://www.traumaprevention.com/index.php?nid=article&article_id=64
6.
Blake, D.D., Weathers, F.W., Nagy, L.M., Kalouek, D.G., Charney, E.S., & Keane, T.M. (1995). The development of a clinician-administered PTSD scale. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 8, 75-90.
7.
Derluyn, I., Broekaert, E., Schuyten, G., & De Femmerman, E. (2004). Post-traumatic stress in former Ugandan child soldiers. Lancet, 363, 861-863.
8.
Embrey, D.G., & Gregory, J. (2006). Victory over trauma: Paraclete training for child soldiers in Ganta, Liberia. New World Outlook, lxvi, 14-17.
9.
Figley, C.R. (1985). Trauma and its wake (Vol. 1). New York: Brunner/ Mazel.
10.
George, T. (Director). (2005). Hotel Rwanda [Motion picture]. United States: MGM Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
11.
Gregory, J. (2007). The effects of a "companion recovery model" to decrease post traumatic stress symptoms for ex-combatants in Liberia. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Union Institute and University , Cincinnati, OH.
12.
Gregory, J., & Embrey, D.G. (in press). Companion recovery model to reduce the effects of profound catastrophic trauma for former child soldiers in Ganta, Liberia. Traumatology.
13.
Gupta, L. (2000). Psychosocial assessment of displaced children exposed to war related violence in Sierra Leone. Childreach . Retrieved July 29, 2008, from http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/AllDocsByUNID/615fb4a419cba540c125691a0039406a
14.
Hall, T. (2002). Explicit instruction [Electronic version]. Wakefield, MA: National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum.
15.
Herman, J. (1997). Trauma and recovery. New York : Basic Books.
16.
Kielson, H. (1992). Sequential traumatization in children. Jerusalem: Magnes Press.
17.
Ki-Moon, B. (2008). At the day of remembrance of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. New York: United Nations. Retrieved July 1, 2008, from http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N05/483/03/PDF/No548303.pdf
18.
Lobell, M. (Director). (2003). Tears of the sun [Motion picture] . United States: Revolution Studios Distribution Co.
19.
Maslow, A. (1970). Motivation and personality (2nd ed.). New York: Harper & Row.
20.
Medeiros, E. (2007). Integrating mental health into post-conflict rehabilitation: The case of Sierra Leonean and Liberian "child soldiers." Journal of Health Psychology, 12, 498-504.
21.
Mogapi, N. (2004). Reintegration of soldiers: The missing piece. Intervention, 2, 221-225.
22.
Niccol, A. (Director). (2005). Lord of war [Motion picture]. United States: Lionsgate Films.
23.
Odenwald, M., Lingenfelder, B., Schauer, M., Jeuner, F., Bockstroh, B., Hinkel, H., et al. (2007). Screening for posttraumatic stress disorder among Somali ex-combatants: A validation study [Electronic version]. Conflict and Health. Retrieved July 29, 2008, from http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/1/1/10
24.
Osofsky, J.D. (1995). Children who witness domestic violence: The invisible victims. Social Policy Reports: Society for Research in Child Development, 9, 1-16.
25.
Perry, B.D., Pollard, R.A., Blakley, T.L., Baker, W.L., & Vigilante, D. (1995). Childhood trauma, the neurobiology of adaptation and use-dependent development of the brain: How states become traits. Infants Mental Health Journal, 16, 271-291.
26.
Schenk, K., & Williamson, J. (2005). Ethical approaches to gathering information from children and adolescents in international settings: Guidelines and resources. Washington, DC: Population Council.
27.
Scholte, W.F., van de Put, W.A.C.M., & de Jong, J.P. (2004). A protocol for psychosocial intervention in refugee crisis: Early experiences in Rwanda refugee camps. Intervention , 2, 181-192.
28.
Stein, P., & Kendall, J. (2004). Psychological trauma and the developing brain . Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press .
29.
Stepakoff, S., Hubbard, J., Katoh, M., Falk, E., Mikulu, J.B., Nkhoma, P., et al. (2006). Trauma healing in refugee camps in Guinea: a psychosocial program for Liberian and Sierra Leonean survivors of torture and war. American Psychologist, 61, 921-932.
30.
Terr, L. (1983). Time sense following psychic trauma: A clinical study of ten adults and twenty children. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 53, 244-261.
31.
van der Kolk, B.A., van der Hart, O., & Burbridge J. (1995). Approaches to the treatment of PTSD. In S. Hobfoll & M. de Vries (Eds.), Extreme stress and communities: Impact and intervention (pp. 1-17). Norwell, MA: Kluwer Academic. Retrieved July 1, 2008, from http://www.trauma-pages.com/a/vanderk.php
32.
Weathers, F.W., Keane, T.M., & Davidson, J.R. (2001). Clinician-administered PTSD scale: A review of the first ten years of research. Depression and Anxiety, 13, 132-156.
33.
Zwick, E. (Director). (2006). Blood diamond [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Bros. Pictures.
