M.A.(Clinical Social Work) / In South Africa, trauma is a vivid reality for many children. Unfortunately due to a lack of resources and knowledge, many children in early childhood who experience trauma symptoms are left untreated. Children in this developmental phase of early childhood, have a limited vocabulary, which adds to the challenge of effectively treating trauma through alternative talk therapies. Neurotherapies like Eye Movement Integration Therapy (EMI), which does not rely on the verbal ability of the child, has therefore gained a lot of interest. The goal of this study was to explore whether EMI can be a useful intervention in treating trauma in early childhood. The objectives included to, i) determine whether or not a change in trauma symptoms was evident from pre- to post-EMI intervention, using the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC); ii) explore the perceptions of parents/caregivers regarding EMI’s effectiveness in the reduction of trauma symptoms; and iii) formulate conclusions and recommendations regarding EMI’s implementation as a trauma intervention with children in early childhood. The researcher followed an exploratory design. The one-group pre-test/post-test design was utilised for conducting the study. The study made use of the Trauma Symptoms Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC), a parent/caregiver report that measures the prevalence and intensity of trauma symptoms like anger, anxiety, dissociation, post-traumatic stress intrusion, post-traumatic stress avoidance, post-traumatic stress arousal, post-traumatic stress total and sexual concerns, in order to determine if a single EMI session could produce a change in trauma symptoms. The group was measured prior to the administration of one EMI session, which according to Beaulieu (2004) is sufficient to result in a measurable change in trauma symptoms. Two weeks later the group’s symptoms were re-measured, using the same instrument. The prescribed EMI protocol was followed. Although the findings from studies of EMI with adults and teenagers appear promising, the usefulness of EMI with young children has not been explored. The results from the study indicated that all of the symptoms as measured by the TSCYC reduced significantly (p<.05) after a single EMI session. It would therefore appear as if EMI might be a useful intervention strategy to treat trauma experienced during early childhood.

An exploratory study covering phase 1 stages 1, 2 and 3 only was undertaken in this large hybrid research project to determine perceptions and understandings of the practitioners and the community about mental health problems of children and adolescents in Zambia because so far there is little known about this phenomenon. The aim of this exploratory study was to gain new insights into the phenomenon by undertaking a preliminary investigation to determine priorities for the future post doctoral research before a more structured study to develop the PHC innovative curriculum. The process first 'explored' social reality on the ground to better comprehend the perceptions and understandings of mental health problems of CA and the curricula model preferences as perceived by the practitioners and the community respectively. This was done to appreciate the "reality of practice" on the ground using the Systems, Ecological, and Biopsychosocial theories which underpinned the four field areas of the study which are: Mental Health, Curriculum Development, INSET and Action Research (AR). The total project is open-ended with three (3) phases and eight (8) stages, from the initial exploration of perceptions (phase 1), through reports to government and stakeholders, curriculum development and piloting with health educators (phase 2) and finally implementing the reconstructed curriculum and integration (phase 3) in such a way as to empower primary health workers to themselves do further research. This thesis, covering the initial explorations of perception, encompasses ONLY the first phase and three stages of this larger qualitative research project because of the Higher Education requirements and funding to try to complete in 4 years. This entails literature review of all 4 field areas because in order to orientate the first phase and three stages of such research and to see the implications of results, it is necessary to have a good grounding in all four. The research study process commenced with an orientation and introduction of the context and purpose of the study, followed by the search conferences and focus group meetings using Qualitative Research Design and Methodology. Search conferences, focus group discussions, hospital registers and clinic records were the three sources of data collection. Analysis of Qualitative and Quantitative Data used NVIVO and SPSS 13.0 Statistical Data Analysis Soft ware respectively. The study showed that mental health problems of Children and Adolescents perceived by the community and the practitioners were also referred and recorded in various hospital registers. The analysis of data from hospital records on referred cases further showed that there are serious psychotic mental health disorders in children and adolescents referred for further consultations to hospitals from the community, some of which are: acute psychotic states, with some associated with HIV/Aids. In addition to these psychotic states, epilepsy, drug and alcohol abuse, child defilement, rape cases, mental retardation and conversion disorders particularly in female children/adolescents appeared to be relatively significant mental health concerns and problems in the researched community sites. The conclusion of the study suggests that there were more environment related factors perceived to cause mental health challenges to children and adolescents. This finding further suggests that there are similarities of cases referred from the community with those seen in clinical practice areas. The significance of these findings in the reality of practice, implies that the preferred PRISMS curriculum model to be developed later as a post doctoral activity for 'INSET' of PHC practitioners in Zambia should have deliberate blending of curriculum content with more socio-environment related issues than the current traditional curricula models which are more clinical in structure, process and content. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

Child centered play therapy (CCPT) is a therapeutic intervention that provides the environment for children to work through and heal from difficult experiences through expression of play and therapeutic relationship. It has been demonstrated effective with multiple types of disruptive behaviors. I conducted single-case research to explore CCPT's influence on children who had four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and provided analysis of data collected from one assessment administered weekly and one assessment at pre-, mid-, and post-intervention: the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Trauma Symptoms Checklist for Young Children. The two participants (one 8-year-old White American male and one 9-year-old White American female) demonstrated significant improvement in total difficulties and prosocial behaviors. The study revealed potential therapeutic benefits for utilizing CCPT with children who had four or more ACEs. Encompassed in discussion of study results are implications for practice, suggestions for future research, and limitations.

Thesis (PhD (Psychiatry))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Many gaps remain in our current state of knowledge about the epidemiology, phenomenology, neurobiology, and psychopharmacology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. Empirical evidence, particularly in non-Western settings, is sparse and there is little convergent understanding of the interrelationship of epidemiological factors, PTSD symptom expression, full and partial syndromes, disorders comorbid with PTSD, and pharmacotherapeutic interventions. Clinicians are faced with the difficult task of treating this often complicated and debilitating disorder in youth in the absence of data from well-controlled clinical trials. The studies detailed here are a point of departure for understanding the confluence that exists between epidemiological, phenomenological, and pharmacotherapeutic aspects of adolescent PTSD. Two studies were conducted to investigate the prevalence and effects of violence exposure and PTSD, clinical and functional correlates of full and partial syndromes, and associated gender differences in school and clinic samples, respectively. Two preliminary open-label trials assessed the efficacy and safety of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in adolescents with at least moderate severity PTSD. The results indicate that (i) partial PTSD is a common nosological entity in adolescents, (ii) gender-related differences in PTSD, even if not manifest in differences in prevalence (i.e., in the rates of trauma exposure and full and partial PTSD), may well manifest in symptom expression (i.e., higher symptom burden in girls), associated morbidity, and functional impairment, and (iii) SSRIs may be effective in treating core PTSD symptoms in this age group. While not yet demonstrated, the partial subtype may have similar biological underpinnings to full PTSD in adolescents and may benefit from similar pharmacotherapeutic interventions. This is an area deserving of further investigation. Controlled SSRI data are needed to establish if these should be agents of choice for paediatric PTSD.

Objectives: This study documented events contributing to historical trauma among American Indian mission boarding school survivors, described residual effects of that trauma, and verified the Dream Catcher-Medicine Wheel model as a culturally appropriate tool that enhanced storytelling. Research Design and Methods: Nine women from two Upper Plains tribes were located through snowball sampling and participant referrals. A descriptive exploratory qualitative approach facilitated them in relating their survival stories. Seven were tape-recorded and two were hand-written on the Dream Catcher-Medicine Wheel, a model specifically designed for this study; this, combined with traditional spiritual grounding ceremonies, enhanced perspective for researcher and participants alike. Data Analysis: Liehr and Smith's (2008) Story Theory guided the methodology in the data gathering and analysis process using the Dream Catcher-Medicine Wheel combined with taped and written storytelling sessions. Major themes were categorized and supported with interview quotes through inductive analysis of the two research questions: What were the health challenges faced by survivors of American Indian mission boarding schools over time?, and, How have American Indian mission boarding school survivors resolved the health challenges they have faced over time? The first theme, subdivided into Breaking and Silencing of Spirit, examined physical, mental, and sexual abuse. The second theme, Survival of Spirit, examined relationships/parenting, coping/substance abuse, and spirituality. Findings: The seven dimensions described in Lowe and Struthers' (2001) Nursing in Native American Culture Conceptual Framework provided the value structure used for interpretation of findings. Implications for practice and research were related to the seven dimensions as culturally appropriate parameters for nursing. / Data analysis identified disturbing themes; unanticipated candor emerged, possibly owing to the fact that the researcher is a historical trauma survivor. Despite having survived historical trauma through the survival of the spirit, each participant struggles to resolve health challenges to this day. Unable to voice mission boarding school experiences for most of their adult lives, each affirmed the rediscovery of Native spirituality empowering; all expressed appreciation for traditional methods woven into storytelling sessions, particularly the Dream Catcher-Medicine Wheel, and all indicated they experienced release and healing through telling their stories. Key words: American Indian; historical trauma; nursing; boarding school; Dream Catcher-Medicine Wheel. / by Barbara K. Charbonneau-Dahlen. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.