Bill is an only child whose parents are both career military personnel. He is being seen by the school nurse for complaints of fever and wants to be sent home. On examination he is afebrile.
He tells the nurse he doesn't like this school anyway and the nurse notes that this is his third school transition in four years. Which of these understandings about the experience of military family members is important to providing compassionate care for this child?
A. Military children are more often exposed to unusual viruses, so he should be sent for a complete evaluation and bloodwork.
B. Military children are generally healthier than their nonmilitary peers, so he should be given strict consequences for pretending to be ill.
C. Children of military personnel are often victims of physical abuse, so he should be asked direct questions about whether or not his parents have been physically aggressive with him.
D. Isolation and alienation are common experiences of military family members, so it is important to assess further his adjustment in the current school setting.
Question 2
Joshua, a 15-year-old whose father has been suffering from PTSD since returning from combat, is now seeing a counselor himself with reports of flashbacks that are similar to his father's symptoms.
Which of the following interpretations of Joshua's behavior is supported by evidence?
A. Military children often pretend to have symptoms of PTSD to get secondary gains.
B. This is a common symptom of substance abuse and drug-seeking behavior.
C. It is not uncommon for children of parents with PTSD to experience secondary trauma.
D. Joshua's experience is indicative of impending psychosis.
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School can be discouraging and frustrating place for a child with a learning disability