Identifying Risk Profiles in War-Affected Children and Adolescents: Implications for Trauma-Informed Care

Children and adolescents with war-related experiences do not constitute a homogeneous group in terms of psychological symptoms. In practice, this means that a one-size-fits-all approach to diagnosis and intervention is insufficient. Instead, profiling individual symptom patterns, considering factors like age, specific trauma exposures, living situations, and even engagement in hobbies, is essential for guiding trauma-informed care. The results have significant clinical implications for designing individualized, culturally sensitive psychological interventions, ensuring that support is specifically matched to the unique needs of each child or adolescent, rather than relying on broad diagnostic categories. For instance, interventions for younger children with higher depression may focus on emotional support, while older adolescents with higher PTSD may require targeted support for complex trauma.