<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Betancourt, T. S.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Newnham, E. A.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">McBain, R.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Brennan, R. T.</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Post-traumatic stress symptoms among former child soldiers in Sierra Leone: follow-up study</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Br J Psychiatry</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">*Warfare</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Adolescent</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Combat Disorders/*epidemiology/rehabilitation</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Family Relations</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Female</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Follow-Up Studies</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Humans</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Male</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Military Personnel/*psychology/statistics &amp; numerical data</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Prospective Studies</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sierra Leone/epidemiology</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Stereotyping</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Violence/statistics &amp; numerical data</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2013</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sep</style></date></pub-dates></dates><number><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></number><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">203</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">196-202</style></pages><isbn><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1472-1465 (Electronic)&lt;br/&gt;0007-1250 (Linking)</style></isbn><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">BACKGROUND: Former child soldiers are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the trajectory of symptoms has yet to be examined. AIMS: The risk and protective factors associated with PTSD symptom change among former child soldiers in Sierra Leone were investigated. METHOD: Data from 243 former child soldiers (mean age 16.6 years, 30% female) were analysed. RESULTS: Self-reported rates of possible PTSD using standard cut-off points declined from 32% to 16% 4 years later (P&lt;0.05). Symptoms of PTSD at baseline were significantly associated with war experiences (P&lt;0.01) and post-conflict family abuse (P&lt;0.001). Reliable improvement in symptoms was reported by 30%. In growth models examining symptom change, worsening of symptoms was associated with death of a parent (P&lt;0.05) and post-conflict stigma (P&lt;0.001). Protective effects were observed for increases in family acceptance (P&lt;0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated improvement in PTSD symptoms among former child soldiers despite limited access to care. Family and community support played a vital part in promoting psychological adjustment.</style></abstract><accession-num><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23887999</style></accession-num><notes><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Betancourt, Theresa S&lt;br/&gt;Newnham, Elizabeth A&lt;br/&gt;McBain, Ryan&lt;br/&gt;Brennan, Robert T&lt;br/&gt;eng&lt;br/&gt;P60 MD002261/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/&lt;br/&gt;1K01MH07724601A2/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/&lt;br/&gt;Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural&lt;br/&gt;Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't&lt;br/&gt;Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.&lt;br/&gt;England&lt;br/&gt;2013/07/28 06:00&lt;br/&gt;Br J Psychiatry. 2013 Sep;203(3):196-202. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.113514. Epub 2013 Jul 25.</style></notes><custom2><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3759030</style></custom2><auth-address><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, and Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.</style></auth-address></record></records></xml>