6, 10 Second, despite suggestions of increased psychological distress for girl soldiers, 5, 11 - 13 prior to the conduct of this study no published epidemiological studies to our knowledge had explored sex differences in the psychological impact of soldiering. However, there is a lack of published research comparing the severity of mental health problems and functional status among child soldiers with children living through war who were not conscripted to armed groups 6 - 9 unpublished studies of nongovernmental organizations suggest there may not be a difference between these groups. First, child soldiers are considered in need of special psychosocial intervention. However, in a recent report on the status of child soldiers, Betancourt et al 6 revealed gaps in crucial areas of research to understand the impact of becoming a soldier on child mental health. 1 The dedicated efforts of humanitarian organizations, 2 psychosocial workers, 3 and former child soldiers 4, 5 have called international attention to this issue. After adjusting for traumatic exposures and other covariates, former soldier status was significantly associated with depression (odds ratio, 2.41 95% confidence interval, 1.31-4.44) and PTSD among girls (OR, 6.80 95% CI, 2.16-21.58), and PTSD among boys (OR, 3.81 95% CI, 1.06-13.73) but was not associated with general psychological difficulties (OR, 2.08 95% CI, 0.86-5.02), anxiety (OR, 1.63 95% CI, 0.77-3.45), or function impairment (OR, 1.34 95% CI, 0.84-2.14).Д¬onclusionВ In Nepal, former child soldiers display greater severity of mental health problems compared with children never conscripted by armed groups, and this difference remains for depression and PTSD (the latter especially among girls) even after controlling for trauma exposure.ДЄrmed groups throughout the world continue to exploit children to wage war.

The numbers of former child soldiers meeting symptom cutoff scores were 75 (53.2%) for depression, 65 (46.1%) for anxiety, 78 (55.3%) for PTSD, 55 (39.0%) for psychological difficulties, and 88 (62.4%) for function impairment. All participants experienced at least 1 type of trauma. ResultsВ Participants were a mean of 15.75 years old at the time of this study, and former child soldiers ranged in age from 5 to 16 years at the time of conscription. Main Outcome MeasuresВ Depression symptoms were assessed via the Depression Self Rating Scale, anxiety symptoms via the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) via the Child PTSD Symptom Scale, general psychological difficulties via the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, daily functioning via the Function Impairment tool, and exposure to traumatic events via the PTSD Traumatic Event Checklist of the Kiddie Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. ObjectiveВ To compare the mental health status of former child soldiers with that of children who have never been conscripts of armed groups.Дesign, Setting, and ParticipantsВ Cross-sectional cohort study conducted in March and April 2007 in Nepal comparing the mental health of 141 former child soldiers and 141 never-conscripted children matched on age, sex, education, and ethnicity. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the mental health of child soldiers compared with civilian children in armed conflicts.

Shared Decision Making and CommunicationД¬ontextВ Former child soldiers are considered in need of special mental health interventions.

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Half life 2 conscripts