Citation

Soysa CK. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2013; 22(8): 896-915.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10926771.2013.824056

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article addresses post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in Sri Lankan children in response to war and the 2004 tsunami. Exposure to war and the tsunami each predicted severity of posttraumatic symptomatology. In both studies, reexperiencing and arousal symptoms were reported more than avoidance-numbing. Furthermore, symptom severity was greater in groups reporting many symptoms compared to those reporting fewer symptoms, and there was no difference in symptom severity when the DSM-IV set of six symptoms was compared to a different set of 6 symptoms (with just one avoidance-numbing symptom). The relative primacy of reexperiencing and arousal symptoms are highlighted in this understudied South Asian population, informing cultural variation in diagnostic criteria and clinical interventions for post-traumatic stress symptoms.