The nature of conflict has changed, putting children in the frontline in new and terrible ways. Wars are lasting longer. They are more likely to be fought in urban areas amongst civilian populations leading to deaths and life-changing injuries, and laying waste to the infrastructure needed to guarantee access to food and water. Attacks on schools and hospitals are up. The denial of humanitarian aid is used as yet another weapon of war. The international rules and basic standards of conduct that exist to protect civilians in conflict are being flouted with impunity.

Highlights

•In the general population the prevalence of subthreshold anxiety disorders is 11.4%.

•Subthreshold anxiety disorders have a heterogeneous three-year course.

•In 57.3% of respondents subthreshold anxiety symptoms are self-limiting.

•Symptoms were persistent in 29.0% and progressed into an anxiety disorder in 13.8%.

•People with persistent or progressive anxiety symptoms may benefit from intervention.

Abstract

This document includes the recommendations and describes the methodology used to develop them. Important issues that should be considered when interpreting the recommendations, and translating them into practice, are highlighted. It was decided to publish the recommendations and position papers in advance of the book as they represent a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of high quality research evidence that is likely to help practitioners in their work.

For the past two decades, there has been substantial debate about whether there are qualitatively different symptom profiles that can develop from different experiences of traumatic events. It has been proposed that more complex symptom profiles, called “complex PTSD,” can emerge from events that involve multiple, chronic or repeated types of traumas that are of an interpersonal nature and from which escape is difficult or impossible such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, genocide campaigns and being a prisoner of war (Herman, 1992).