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Psychological Effects of Missing Persons

When a person is kidnapped or abducted, he is put into captivity against his will. When a person who was missing as a result of abduction is found, he can have adverse psychological effects. Abduction is a very traumatic experience in which the victim has suffered through an emotional and physical ordeal. The experience can be so traumatic it will take time and possibly professional help to assist in coping with it.

  1. Effects on the Victim

    • When someone is abducted and held against her will, the experience can leave her with many adverse psychological effects. The event can leave the victim feeling anxious with many insecurities and fears, according to the Free Legal Advice Help website.

      Victims of abduction offer suffer from flashbacks, in which they relive the trauma. However, some other victims cannot remember the traumatic events at all. Victims can show other types of re-experience symptoms such as nightmares and frightening thoughts, the National Institute of Mental Health says. All of these reactions are also symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

      Another psychological effect can be Stockholm Syndrome. This is when the victim begins to feel loyalty to her abductor. This is a coping mechanism for the victim, and the feeling can be so strong that the victim may even defend her captor after she is freed.

    Effects on Child Victims

    • Children are significantly impacted by trauma. Children will have a harder time understanding and recovering from the event. This is because they do not have the same coping mechanisms that adults have to be able to comprehend a traumatic event, according to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress. Because they have the traumatic experience during their growth and development, their psychological growth and maturity becomes affected. Some children will develop behavior or psychiatric disorders after the event. Children who experience abduction can also experience PTSD.

    Signs and Symptoms of PTSD in Adults

    • Many victims suffer from PTSD after abduction. PTSD can cause a person to relive the event through dreams or memories. They also may show avoidance of objects, places or people that are reminders of the event. The National Institute of Mental Health states that people who are suffering from PTSD also can experience moderate to severe depression. Activities that they once found enjoyable are not anymore. They also may experience feelings of anxiety, guilt or extreme nervousness.

    Signs and Symptoms of PTSD in Children

    • When a child is experiencing PTSD, he may experience symptoms such as vivid nightmares and avoidance of reminders. Children may also display feelings of anxiety and aggression, which is sometimes mistaken for bad behavior. Children can also display behavior that mimics the event, says the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress.

    Treatment for Victims of Abduction

    • Initiating a support system for the victim is a step to helping victims of abduction. Seeking professional help in cognitive behavior treatments is also a recommended therapy. This is when a trained therapist helps the victim understand what happened. The therapist helps the victim learn how to transfer thoughts causing fear and anxiety into less distressing thoughts.

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