@article{ref1,
title="Interventions for children affected by war: an ecological perspective on psychosocial support and mental health care",
journal="Harvard review of psychiatry",
year="2013",
author="Betancourt, Theresa S. and Meyers-Ohki, Sarah E. and Charrow, Alexandra P. and Tol, Wietse A.",
volume="21",
number="2",
pages="70-91",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents exposed to armed conflict are at high risk of developing mental health problems. To date, a range of psychosocial approaches and clinical/psychiatric interventions has been used to address mental health needs in these groups. AIMS: To provide an overview of peer-reviewed psychosocial and mental health interventions designed to address mental health needs of conflict-affected children, and to highlight areas in which policy and research need strengthening. <br><br>METHODS: We used standard review methodology to identify interventions aimed at improving or treating mental health problems in conflict-affected youth. An ecological lens was used to organize studies according to the individual, family, peer/school, and community factors targeted by each intervention. Interventions were also evaluated for their orientation toward prevention, treatment, or maintenance, and for the strength of the scientific evidence of reported effects. <br><br>RESULTS: Of 2305 studies returned from online searches of the literature and 21 sources identified through bibliography mining, 58 qualified for full review, with 40 peer-reviewed studies included in the final narrative synthesis. Overall, the peer-reviewed literature focused largely on school-based interventions. Very few family and community-based interventions have been empirically evaluated. Only two studies assessed multilevel or stepped-care packages. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The evidence base on effective and efficacious interventions for conflict-affected youth requires strengthening. Postconflict development agendas must be retooled to target the vulnerabilities characterizing conflict-affected youth, and these approaches must be collaborative across bodies responsible for the care of youth and families.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1067-3229",
doi="10.1097/HRP.0b013e318283bf8f",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0b013e318283bf8f"
}