By Jennifer Nachbur Article published April 22, 2003
These are traumatic times for everyone. But ‘round-the-clock news coverage of the war and its aftermath — not to mention sniper shootings, kidnapping and global terrorism — may be particularly difficult for children who are exposed to upsetting images on a near-daily basis but have fewer resources for dealing with them.
Dr. David Fassler, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry who is a nationally recognized expert in children's response to stress and trauma, has commented on this phenomenon and related topics in a number of national news stories. Reporters working on pieces ranging from children and the war to the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case have drawn on Fassler for context and expertise.
Fassler received his medical degree from Yale. He is the author of Help Me, I’m Sad: Recognizing, Treating and Preventing Childhood and Adolescent Depression. Through his work as a trustee of the American Psychiatric Association and with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, he has helped develop guidelines for parents and teachers on talking to children about a variety of stressful situations, such as the events of 9/11, the D.C. sniper shootings, the space shuttle tragedy and most recently, the war in Iraq.
the view: How did you get involved in the field of childhood trauma?
DAVID FASSLER: 
I first became interested in children’s reactions to stressful situations as an undergraduate at Wesleyan, where I did research on reducing pre-operative anxiety. In medical school, I did my medical thesis on children’s fear of needles and completed a family practice rotation working with the Rutland social services office.
What types of experiences result in emotional trauma for children?
All kinds of experiences can be emotionally stressful, difficult or traumatic for children. Some are obvious — such as physical or emotional abuse, exposure to violence, divorce, the death of a parent or coping with chronic illness — but many are less obvious, such as a parent’s depression, teasing in school or moving far away from familiar people and surroundings.
Can jarring television images of events like September 11 and the war in Iraq cause serious trauma in children?
Research clearly demonstrates that repeated exposure to violent, confusing or disturbing images has detrimental effects on the emotional well being of children and in particular, younger children. It’s important for parents to monitor what their children watch on television and to even watch with their kids so they can offer explanations and answer questions.
Which is more traumatic for a child – a single devastatingly traumatic experience or years of repeated abuse?
Both acute and chronic or repeated trauma are difficult and stressful experiences for children. How a particular child responds will depend, to some extent, on his or her stage of development, personality, coping skills and previous encounters. In my experience, chronic trauma often has more devastating, long-term effects on a child’s self esteem. Both acute and chronic trauma can lead to symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, which can include frequent or intrusive memories of the event; play in which some or all of the trauma is repeated over and over; upsetting and frightening dreams; acting or feeling like the experience is happening again; or developing repeated physical or emotional symptoms when reminded of the event.
What happens to a child who has been kidnapped, like Elizabeth Smart?
In general, children who have been abducted experience feelings of guilt, anger, fear, anxiety and confusion. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression are also common. It’s usually better to let them adjust and adapt at their own pace. Recovery takes time, and it’s almost never complete. This kind of experience often has very long-lasting consequences.
What is the long-term effect of childhood trauma?
Severe or prolonged childhood trauma increases the risk of future psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse. It can also cause problems with self-esteem, school performance and peer interactions. Children who have experienced previous trauma are at greater emotional risk when confronted with future trauma.
The good news is that we can help most kids who have experienced trauma. However, there’s no one approach or formula that works for all kids. Treatment needs to be comprehensive and individualized to the needs of the particular child.
