Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

PTSD Among Youth from Violent Impoverished Communities

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Adolescence

  • 21 Accesses

Overview

This essay examines the historical development and use of the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder that has been primarily applied to war veterans. It explores how study of this population and refinement of this diagnosis were influenced by changing paradigms and the emergence of new theory. From this context, similarities and differences between the symptoms, stressors, and social supports of war veterans with those of youth living in violent, impoverished communities are explored. Based upon this analysis, this essay concludes with implications for education, mental health, and social service policy makers, researchers, and service providers.

Introduction

Although many experiences may be characterized as traumatic and outside the realm of normal experience, war veterans have consistently been the population of interest in the century-long study of what is now called posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Posttraumatic stress disorder is now identified as an anxiety...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 2,900.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1952). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1968). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychological Association. (2003). High percentage of youth in the U.S. report symptoms of post-traumatic stress and other disorders. Retrieved 6 May 2008, from http://www.apa.org/releases/youth_disorders.html

  • Bertram, R. M., & Dartt, J. L. (2009). Post-traumatic stress disorder: A diagnosis for youth from violent, impoverished communities. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18, 294–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, T. (2005). Issues in forensic psychology: Post-traumatic stress disorder. Retrieved 11 Feb 2008, from http://www.campsych.com/PTSD.htm

  • Catherall, D. (1986). The support system and amelioration of PTSD in Vietnam veterans. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 23, 472–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daane, D. (2003). Child and adolescent violence. Orthopedic Nursing, 22, 23–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Shazer, S. (1991). Putting differences to work. New York: Norton Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feerick, M. M., & Silverman, G. B. (Eds.). (2006). Children exposed to violence. Baltimore: Paul H. Brooks.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fontana, A., & Rosenheck, R. (1999). A model of war zone stressors and posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 12, 111–126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fontana, A., & Rosenheck, R. (2005). The role of war-zone trauma and PTSD in the etiology of antisocial behavior. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 193, 203–209.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, M. (2006). Posttraumatic stress disorder among military returnees from Afghanistan and Iraq. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 586–593.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, M., Schnurr, P., & McDonagh-Coyle, A. (1994). Post-traumatic stress disorder in the military veteran [Electronic version]. Iraq War Clinician Guide, 17, 265–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garbarino, J., Kostelny, K., & Dubrow, N. (1991). No place to be a child: Growing up in a war zone. Lexington: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garbarino, J., Dubrow, N., Kostelny, K., & Pardo, C. (1992). Children in danger: Coping with the consequences of community violence. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goguen, C. (2008). The effects of community violence on children and adolescents. Retrieved 6 May 2008, from http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_child_com_viol.html

  • Goolishan, H., & Anderson, H. (1987). Language systems and therapy: An evolving idea. Journal of Psychotherapy, 24, 529–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guba, E. (Ed.). (1991). The paradigm dialog. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haley, J. (1981). Why a mental health clinic should avoid family therapy. In J. Haley (Ed.), Reflections on therapy and other essays (pp. 174–189). Chevy Chase: Family Therapy Institute of Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamrin, V., Jonker, B., & Scahill, L. (2004). Acute stress disorder symptoms in gunshot-injured youth. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 17, 161–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hankin, C., Abueg, F., Gallagher-Thompson, D., & Laws, A. (1996). Dimensions of PTSD among veterans seeking outpatient medical care: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 2, 239–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoge, C., & Castro, C. (2006). Post-traumatic stress disorder in UK and US forces deployed to Iraq. Lancet, 368, 837.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, K., Weine, S., & Jekel, J. (1995). PTSD symptoms in urban adolescent girls: Compounded community trauma. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 1353–1361.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, K., McKay, M., & Marshall, R. (2005). Community violence and urban families: Experiences, effects and directions for intervention. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75, 356–368.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • iCasualties.org. (2009). Iraq coalition casualty count. Retrieved 7 Nov 2009, from http://icasualties.org/oif

  • Jones, E., & Wessely, S. (2006). Psychological trauma: A historical perspective. Psychiatry, 5, 217–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E., & Wessely, S. (2007). A paradigm shift in the conceptualization of psychological trauma in the 20th century. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 21, 164–175.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keane, T., Scott, W., Chavoya, G., Lamparski, D., & Fairbank, J. (1985). Social support in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: A comparative analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 95–102.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. (1995). Post-traumatic stress disorder in the national comorbidity survey. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52, 1048–1060.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King, L., King, D., Keane, T., Fairbank, J., & Adams, G. (1998). Resilience-recovery factors in post-traumatic stress disorder among female and male Vietnam veterans: Hardiness, postwar social support, and additional stressful life events. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 420–434.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laslie, K. (2005). Comorbidity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder among low income urban youth. Unpublished master thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litz, B., & Orsillo, S. (2004). The returning veteran of the Iraq war: Background issues and assessment guidelines [Electronic version]. In Iraq war clinician guide (2nd ed., pp. 21–33).

    Google Scholar 

  • Malysiak, R. (1997). Exploring the theory and paradigm base for wraparound. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 6, 399–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maturana, H. (1978). Biology of language: The epistemology of reality. In E. Lenneberg (Ed.), Psychology and biology of language and thought: Essays in honor of Eric Lenneberg (pp. 27–63). New York: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCart, M., Smith, D., Saunders, B., Kilpatrick, D., Resnick, H., & Ruggiero, K. (2007). Do urban adolescents become desensitized to community violence? Data from a national survey. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77, 434–442.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minuchin, S., Montalvo, B., Guerney, B. G., Rosman, B. L., & Schumer, F. (1967). Families of the slums: An exploration of their structure and their treatment. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nock, M., Kazdin, A., Hiripi, E., & Kessler, R. (2006). Prevalence, subtypes, and correlates of DSM-IV conduct disorder in the national comorbidity survey replication. Psychological Medicine, 36, 699–710.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Okundaye, J. (2004). Drug trafficking and urban African-American youth: Risk factors for PTSD. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 21, 285–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozer, E., & Weinstein, R. (2004). Urban adolescents’ exposure to community violence: The role of support, school safety, and social constraints in a school-based sample of boys and girls. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 33, 463–476.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palazzoli, M. S., Boscolo, L., Cecchin, G., & Prata, G. (1980). Paradox and counterparadox. New York: Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papp, P. (1986). Letter to Salvador Minuchin. In H. C. Fishan & B. L. Rosman (Eds.), Evolving models for family change: A volume in honor of Salvador Minuchin (pp. 204–213). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rand Center for Military Health Policy Research. (2008). Invisible wounds: Mental health and cognitive care needs of America’s returning veterans. Retrieved 7 May 2008, from http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/2008/RAND_RB9336.pdf

  • Rapp, C. A. (1998). The strengths model. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reebye, P., Moretti, M., Wiebe, V., & Lessard, J. (2000). Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorders in adolescents with conduct disorder: Sex differences and onset patterns. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 45, 746–751.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum, L. (2004). Post-traumatic stress disorder: The chameleon of psychiatry. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 58, 343–348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scarpa, A., Haden, S., & Hurley, J. (2006). Community violence victimization and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder: The moderating effects of coping and social support. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21, 446–469.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Searight, H., Rottnek, F., & Abby, S. (2001). Conduct disorder: Diagnosis and treatment in primary care. American Family Physician, 63, 1579–1588.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silva, R., Cloitre, M., Davis, L., Levitt, J., Gomez, S., Ngai, I., et al. (2003). Early intervention with traumatized children. The Psychiatric Quarterly, 74, 333–347.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slone, L. (2006). Prevalence of PTSD in primary care settings [Electronic version]. PTSD Research Quarterly, 17(2), 1–8. Retrieved 11 Feb 2008, from http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/nc_archives/rsch_qtly/V17N2.pdf

  • Thompson, R. (1994). Social support and the prevention of child maltreatment. In G. Melton & F. Barry (Eds.), Protecting children from abuse and neglect: Foundations for a new national strategy (pp. 40–130). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Census Bureau Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division. (2007). Poverty: 2006 highlights. Retrieved 7 May 2008, from http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty06/pov06hi.html

  • US troops in Iraq show more PTSD symptoms. (2004, August). Psychiatric Annals, 43, 586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vranceanu, A., Hobfoll, S., & Johnson, R. (2007). Child multi-type treatment and associated depression and PTSD symptoms: The role of social support and stress. Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 71–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yehuda, R. (2002). Clinical relevance of biologic findings in PTSD. The Psychiatric Quarterly, 73, 123–133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5100 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64110-2499, USA

    Rosalyn M. Bertram & Jennifer L. Dartt

Authors
  1. Rosalyn M. Bertram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jennifer L. Dartt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosalyn M. Bertram .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Roger J. R. Levesque

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Bertram, R.M., Dartt, J.L. (2018). PTSD Among Youth from Violent Impoverished Communities. In: Levesque, R.J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33228-4_339

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation