Adolescent Survivors of “Ethnic Cleansing”: Observations on the First Year in America

Abstract

To describe the psychiatric assessments and trauma testimonies of 12 Bosnian adolescents newly resettled in America. Method: Twelve Bosnian adolescents who experienced the massive psychic trauma of “ethnic cleansing” were assessed during the first year after their resettlement in the United States. Assessments consisted of systematic, trauma-focused, clinical interviews that included standard assessment scales of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, as well as the opportunity to give testimony about their experiences. PTSD was diagnosed in 25% of subjects and depressive disorders in 17%. Reexperiencing cluster symptoms were present in 50%, avoidance cluster symptoms in 31 %, and hypeararousal cluster symptoms in 29%. The relatively low rate of PTSD in this sample (in comparison with adult survivors of “ethnic cleansing” and with Cambodian adolescent survivors) may be attributable to normal prior development, time-limited adversity, lack of physical or sexual traumas, rejoining nuclear families, or insufficient time for the development of delayed-onset PTSD. It may also be a reflection of the resiliency of adolescence. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1995, 34, 9:1153–1159. © 1995, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. All rights reserved.