Publications by authors named "Bella Ben-Gershon"

Accurate estimation of annual changes in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) prevalence is critical for planning the expansion of diagnostic, education, and intervention services at an adequate rate. Previous studies from Israel have reported that ASD prevalence among 8-year-old children has increased from estimates of 0.3% in 2008 to 0.

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Emergency and disaster situations such as war or terrorism can leave a devastating impact on the mental well-being of victimized populations. In Israel, the civilian aspects of trauma-related mental distress were first extensively tackled during the 1980s, and mainly within the terror-stricken Jerusalem and the localities along the northern border. Since then, a systematic process of trial and error has led to the evolution of emergency mental health services in the country.

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Introduction: The treatment of anxiety and acute stress reaction (ASR) in civilian casualties exposed to continuous missile attacks during Lebanon War II is described in this study. Casualties were treated in community stress centers (CSC) erected ad-hoc, as a result of cooperation between the Mental Health Section of the Home Front Command of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Mental Health Services of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Emergency and Disaster Management Division of the MOH.

Results: A total of 536 casualties were admitted to the centers.

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