Traumatiserade barn från krig eller flykt : i en svensk skola

Sammanfattning: Traumatic experiences, from war and persecution, lead to different natural crisis reactions. The duration and composition of these reactions determine whether the diagnosis posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be made or not. We were interested in how foreign children with a traumatic past are getting on and taken care of in a multinational school in Sweden (age six-16). Our main questions were: To what extent have school staff knowledge of PTSD and its´ symptoms? What observations of a pupil’s behaviour make school staff believe that a pupil suffers from PTSD? How do school staffs work with pupils who show symptoms of PTSD? To what extent does the school cooperate with other authorities when it comes to pupils with PTSD-symptoms? The main result is that the school staffs, in this particular school, have good knowledge of PTSD and its´ symptoms. They know that PTSD can affect behaviour and learning capacity. They also know that these children have special needs but it’s not always possible for the school to meet these needs in a professional manner.