Stressed-out victims of Katrina.

• Position: Psychology - Brief Article

The Hurricane Katrina catastrophe will produce many forms of suffering in all of its victims, young and old, indicates Catherine Cottone. assistant professor of psychology, University at Buffalo (N.Y.).

"The traumas that these victims face--loss of family members, friends, and neighbors; destruction of homes, neighborhoods, entire towns--guarantee that many of them will experience post-traumatic stress disorder in one form or another. Loss, displacement, and changes in routine, compounded with physiological stressors such as dehydration, hunger, or injury, increases the chances of psychological symptoms."

While kids "in general are quite resilient," infants. toddlers, and pre-teens especially are at risk. "The younger children are, the more their reaction depends on the adjustment of their parents and those around them," says Cottone. "If the environment and adults around them provide a safe, structured, and nurturing response to the disaster, the children have a better chance of faring well."

However, for 185,000 Louisiana school-age kids and another 160,000 students from Mississippi, starting...