This document summarizes psychological intervention sessions with children who were survivors of a terrorist attack at an army public school. It describes how the children were assessed using several scales to evaluate PTSD symptoms, mood, and trauma-related cognition. The children exhibited behaviors like anger, weeping, and negative thoughts. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy was used, including psychoeducation, anxiety reduction techniques, cognitive coping strategies, trauma narration, and desensitization through imagery and in-vivo exercises. Joint parent-child sessions were not possible. The goal of therapy was to help the children regain developmental momentum and skills for balancing personal, social, and occupational functioning.

1. Terrorist Attack in Army Public
School
16th December, 2014
Analyzing & Feed Back of Psychological
Intervention Sessions
Robina Mahmood
(Gold Medalist)
Senior Clinical
Psychologist
Mayo Hospital Lahore

2. Terrorism & Trauma
 A traumatic event is described as an intense
event which threatens the emotional and
physical well-being of an individual & especially
children.
 A child aged 6 years to 15 years is at a
vulnerable stage and takes these events very
seriously.
 Psychologically immature. This psychological
immaturity makes them more vulnerable to the
effects of distressing and inescapable
stressors

3. Impact of terrorism on the survivor’s
mental & physical health.
 Mental stress > physical stress
 It was almost 6 months were passed when the
victims came to KEMU/ MAYO HOSPITAL
for psychological aid because survivors were
not settled in their normal lives.

4.  Researchers have found a positive
relationship between childhood trauma and
psychiatric disorders in adulthood.
 Children who experienced traumatic events
are more prone to the psychological disorders
like
 depression,
 Post Traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)
 anxiety disorders in adulthood , it should
be timely screened out.

5. Assessment
 Psychiatrist & clinical psychologist from
KEMU/Mayo hospital Lahore did the assessment
 Interview was conducted along with following
scales.
 Children were assessed by using 3 scales.
 Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS)
 Mood Frequency Questionnaire(MFQ)
 Child Post Traumatic Cognition Inventory(CPTCI)
 Interviews were conducted at individual & group
level.

11. BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS
 Anger( towards the terrorist, school
administration).
 Weepy Spells (helplessness)
 Negative thoughts.
 Pessimism

12. TRAUMA FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR
THERAPY (twice weekly session)
 PSYCHOEDUCATION
 ANXIETY REDUCTION TECHNIQUES
 COGNITIVE COPING
 TRAMA NARATION
 IMAGIREY & INVIVO DESENSITIZATION
 CO JOINT CHILD PARENT SESSION
 FINAL PHASE
 TERMINATION OF SESSIONS
PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS

13. RAPPORT/PSYCHOEDUCATION
 Therapeutic relation ship was developed by
 Active listening
 Reassurance
 Supportive work.
 Psychoeducation was done with the children
with parents it was not possible .
 They were taught to Optimize Emotional &
Behavioral Adjustment

14. ANXIETY REDUCTION TECHNIQUES
 Progressive Muscle Relaxation
 Deep breathing
 Imagery exercises were done.
In group & at individual level according to the
need of a child/client.

16. Cognitive coping
 Anger was present among them.
 Process was explained by illustrating the
relation ship among.
 Thoughts---------Feelings------ Behavior
 Thought Action Fusion

17. Trauma Narration & Desensitization
Imagery & In vivo
 To share their experience and Desensitize at
Imagery level ( Auditorium & School)
 INVIVO( Real life Situation)

18. Co joint parent child session
 Not Possible

19. Final Phase/ Termination of Therapy
 Enhancing Future Goals.
 Should be “SMART” Goals
 S- Specific
 M- Measurable
 A- Achievable
 R- Realistic
 T- Time based
 Regaining developmental momentum & other skills
of life.
 Keeping balance in all levels of functioning
 Personal ---Social---Occupational

23. Feed Back
FROM APS
STUDENTS 