0 Teens who are victims of bullying can suffer prolonged trauma

TUESDAY, Dec. 4 (HealthDay News) - Teens who suffer bullying may develop symptoms of PTSD, according to a recent study.

The findings suggest that victims of bullying may need long-term assistance, said the researchers at the University of Stavanger, Norway.

They looked at nearly 1,000 teens, ages 14 and 15, and found that a third of those who reported being victims of bullying had symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as flashbacks of the event and avoidance behavior.

Those who showed more pronounced symptoms were victims of bullying, which in turn had harassed others. The researchers found that girls were more likely to have PTSD symptoms than boys.

The study appears in a recent issue of the journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology .

The findings are "worthy to be considered, and surprising," he said in a news release from the university study author, psychologist Thormod Idsoe.

"Bullying is defined as physical or mental violence carried out over a long period of time by an individual or a group," he said. "It speaks to a person who can not defend themselves at that time. Know that such experiences can make an impact on the victim."

Symptoms of PTSD can create major problems for students.

"It is clear that students who consistently evoke images or thoughts of painful experiences (and eliminating energy intensive) have a decreased ability to concentrate on school work," said Idsoe. "And this is not usually easy to spot because they often suffer in silence."

Idsoe and colleagues hope their study will contribute to a greater awareness of the fact that child victims of bullying may need help even when they no longer produce.

"In such circumstances, the responsibility of adults is not limited to ending bullying," he said. "It also requires the monitoring after the victims."

Learn more

The Health Resources and Services Administration U.S. health. UU. explains how to help children in a bullying situation .