Interventions for improving psychological health and cognitive, emotional and behavioral processes in children and adolescents who are victims of armed conflict. A systematic review

Abstract

Armed conflicts are related to social, economic, political and cultural difficulties that directly affect people who find themselves in the most vulnerable situations. Millions of children live in countries immersed in armed conflict and have been victims of forced migration and family disintegration and witnesses to traumatic events. The goal of this review was to assess the quality and efficacy of psychological treatments aimed at children and adolescents who are victims of armed conflict. The existing literature from January 2009 to December 2019 was analyzed conducting a systematic search of the Cochrane, Scopus, WoS, ProQuest, Pubmed, ScienceDirect and PsycINFO databases. A growing interest of scientific research in psychological interventions in humanitarian crises contexts is highlighted. There are quality clinical trials that include representative samples, follow-up assessment and treatments that involve the child's family as the key to possible positive changes at cognitive, emotional and behavioral level.