Citation

Klasen F, Schrage J, Post M, Adam H. Prax. Kinderpsychol. Kinderpsychiatr. 2011; 60(2): 125-142.

Vernacular Title

Schuldlos schuldig--Schuldempfinden und Posttraumatische Belastungsstorung bei

Affiliation

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters. f.klasen@uke.de

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Verlag Fur Medizinische Psychologie)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21425638

Abstract

Despite international bans, more than 250,000 children and adolescents are exploited as soldiers worldwide, almost half of them in Africa. These children are exposed to a tremendous amount of violence and are often forced to commit atrocities themselves. In the present study, 330 former Ugandan child soldiers (age: 11-17, female: 48.5%) were interviewed regarding traumatic experiences, trauma-related guild, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Affective and cognitive aspects of guilt were assessed with the Trauma-related Guilt Inventory (TRGI) and PTSD with a diagnostic interview (MINI-KID). Children had been abducted at a mean age of 10.75 years and served for an average period of 19.81 months. They were exposed to numerous traumatic experiences during abduction, e. g., 86.4% were exposed to killings, 87.9% were threatened with death, 52.6% were forced to kill another person, and 25.8% were raped. Diagnostic criteria for PTSD were fulfilled by 33% of the children. Higher guilt cognitions were significantly related to posttraumatic stress disorder. The current study has implications for the development of clinical interventions for war-affected children.

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