Psychiatric Issues Associated Psychiatric Issues Associated with Corporal Punishment in with Corporal Punishment in

SchoolSchool

John Fayyad MDJohn Fayyad MDChild and Adolescent PsychiatristChild and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Institute for Development Research and Applied Care Institute for Development Research and Applied Care (IDRAC)(IDRAC)

Saint George Hospital University Medical CenterSaint George Hospital University Medical CenterBalamand University, Faculty of MedicineBalamand University, Faculty of Medicine

Presented at the National Awareness Raising Seminar on Presented at the National Awareness Raising Seminar on

Corporal Punishment in Schools, Dec 3, 2005.Corporal Punishment in Schools, Dec 3, 2005.

CorporalCorporal Punishment in SchoolPunishment in School

Corporal punishment is a form of physical abuse.Corporal punishment is a form of physical abuse.

Corporal punishment in school is an inappropriate Corporal punishment in school is an inappropriate form of disciplinary action in which children and form of disciplinary action in which children and adolescents are adolescents are physically and/or psychologicallyphysically and/or psychologically injured by school personnel. injured by school personnel.

Psychological Consequences of Psychological Consequences of Corporal PunishmentCorporal Punishment

Corporal punishment may be a traumatizing event for Corporal punishment may be a traumatizing event for many children and adolescentsmany children and adolescents

Increasing their level of stress significantlyIncreasing their level of stress significantly Short and long term psychological consequences Short and long term psychological consequences

similar to those resulting from other forms of physical similar to those resulting from other forms of physical abuseabuse

High risk to develop the following psychiatric High risk to develop the following psychiatric disorders: disorders: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depression (MDD), Separation Anxiety Disorder Depression (MDD), Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and (SAD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Conduct Disorder (CD)Conduct Disorder (CD)

Psychological Consequences of Psychological Consequences of Corporal PunishmentCorporal Punishment

Short term:Short term: anxiety and fear anxiety and fear disruptive, disruptive,

oppositional, violent oppositional, violent behaviorbehavior

poor academic poor academic performance performance

depression depression

Long term:Long term: low self esteem low self esteem an increase in an increase in

aggressive behavioraggressive behavior diminished ability for diminished ability for

problem solving and problem solving and conflict resolutionconflict resolution

serious disturbances in serious disturbances in breaking of social rules breaking of social rules

problems in problems in interpersonal interpersonal relationshipsrelationships

The Equation of AbuseThe Equation of Abuse

perpetrator environment

victim

Corporal punishment

Interventions for Prevention of Interventions for Prevention of Corporal PunishmentCorporal Punishment

ChildrenChildren who are at a higher risk to be physically who are at a higher risk to be physically abused in school need to be identified and alternative abused in school need to be identified and alternative strategies to managing their behaviors implemented.strategies to managing their behaviors implemented.

School personnelSchool personnel who are likely to engage in who are likely to engage in corporal punishment need to be identified and corporal punishment need to be identified and targeted for specific interventions to give them more targeted for specific interventions to give them more effective tools.effective tools.

Factors in the Factors in the school environmentschool environment itself which itself which facilitate and permit corporal punishment need to be facilitate and permit corporal punishment need to be

addressed systematically and eliminated.addressed systematically and eliminated.

Is Physical Force Needed ? Is Physical Force Needed ?

Physical force or constraint by school officials Physical force or constraint by school officials may be needed under may be needed under very limited conditionsvery limited conditions for for example to restrain an assaultive child or example to restrain an assaultive child or adolescent who poses a adolescent who poses a danger danger of injury or harm of injury or harm to other students and staff. to other students and staff.

In such circumstances schools should develop a In such circumstances schools should develop a clear policy and plan regarding how to intervene clear policy and plan regarding how to intervene

in a safe and effective non-traumatizing manner.in a safe and effective non-traumatizing manner.

Additional Awareness Additional Awareness

School may be the ground where other forms of School may be the ground where other forms of abuse may take place:abuse may take place:

- teacher-student emotional abuse- teacher-student emotional abuse

- student-student bullying- student-student bullying These two forms may have serious adverse These two forms may have serious adverse

psychological consequences on children and psychological consequences on children and adolescents.adolescents.

Awareness must be raised…Awareness must be raised…

Thank You!Thank You!