Under-Age Children Returning From Jihadist Group Operation Areas: How Can We Make a Diagnosis and Construct a Narrative With a Fragmentary Anamnesis?

Abstract

Introduction: Since 2011, the French government estimates that about 500 French children have been born in or taken by their parents to areas where terrorist operations prevail. Since May 2017, 75 children who returned to France have benefited from a dedicated health care system. Method: This article is the result of clinical interviews conducted with 53 patients evaluated and taken care of at Avicenne Hospital in Bobigny. To our knowledge, no studies have been published on this subject. Results: A total of 32 evaluations have been completed, all of which indicated the need for care for these children. Of these children, 64% are under 5 years old, and 59% were born in France. Their clinical profiles are heterogeneous and fluctuate with time. Discussion: The multiple adverse events experienced by these children and the uniqueness of children born to families suspected by authorities of having participated in activities related to terrorism make this situation unprecedented. How can we make a diagnosis of PTSD without the help of a precise anamnesis? How can we help these children form a structuring narrative that avoids the pitfalls inherent to generalized fascination?

La prise en charge psychologique des enfants de djihadistes : modalités et enjeux

“…Travailler sans anamnèse représente un des premiers défis de l'évaluation et du diagnostic. Il est en effet difficile de mesurer la détresse psychique des enfants sans pouvoir discriminer les symptômes durables ou réactionnels liés à un ou des événements traumatiques des symptômes plus structurels [3]. Nous basons donc notre travail d'exploration clinique sur nos observations en consultation et sur ce que l'assistant familial peut nous dire de l'enfant dans son quotidien.…”

“…Deux autres centres existent en Île-de-France : à l'hôpital de Versailles et au centre hospitalier intercommunal de Créteil. Dans chaque centre, une double évaluation pédiatrique et psychologique est proposée.2 L'anamnèse est l'histoire des symptômes de l'enfant, mais aussi de son développement, du contexte dans lequel il a grandi, des événements adverses vécus, etc 3. C'est-à-dire la personne qui donne les soins à l'enfant, qui s'occupe de lui.…”

Children of extremist parents: Insights from a specialized clinical team

“…Clinicians were challenged by the institutional mandate they received from the government which interfered with standard care and with the decision-making process in the best interest of the child ( Guerin Franchitto, 2021 ). They also highlighted the difficulty of providing care to such children without a proper anamnesis ( Klein et al, 2020 ). Overall, although the foreign fighter children represent a relatively small number of children, their politically sensitive predicament has led to the production of several guidelines for practitioners ( Weine et al, 2020 ).…”