The authors examined sustained attention performance
and PTSD symptoms in a sample of 281 orphans and non-orphans who experienced
the Sichuan Earthquake in China. They hypothesized that the orphans had a higher possibility to risk for PTSD than non-orphans, and the former
also might even tend to be more impulsive, allergic which might affect their basic cognitive skill-attention. The findings showed evidence of cognitive developmental stages, from vigilance to numbness and avoidance, in the continuous performance test
(CPT) task by including pre-earthquake orphans. The post-earthquake orphans were still in a high level of vigilance
and performed well in the CPT task when compared with the pre-earthquake orphans. The
non-orphans with high possibility to risk for PTSD were the most concentrated and least impulsive. Given
the potentially mutual relationship between sustained attention and
posttraumatic stress disorder, careful consideration must be given to the
treatment of traumatized children who present with PTSD symptoms. In accordance
with practice guidelines, a duplex informant, duplex measure approach in the
decision of educational plans for these children is strongly recommended.
Cite this paper
Wang, Y. , Zhang, X. and Shi, J. (2017). The Relationship between Sustained Attention and PTSD Symptoms in Chinese Earthquake Orphans. Open Access Library Journal, 4, e3729. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1103729.
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