This article reports the qualitative analysis on the coping mechanisms in families' victims of economic extortive kidnapping. Eighteen families having one of their relatives in captivity and 54 who had their relative released 2 to 15 months prior to the study were interviewed. Each adult family member was evaluated for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through the CAPS -DX. Coping mechanisms reported by families during the captivity of a family member and after the release are described in detail and those that promoted adaptation in terms of absence of PTSD in any family member were identified.

kidnapping family trauma Family coping

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