Traumatic reactivation during court trial among a pediatric patient cohort: the example of the July 14, 2016 Nice terrorist attack

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BACKGROUND: The court trial for the July 14, 2016, Nice terrorist attack took place in Fall 2022. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the clinical and cognitive impacts of this trial on children aged 7-12 participating in our ongoing epidemiological research, the 14-7 Program. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Seventy-three children from this cohort participated, and 52 completed a second evaluation after the trial. METHOD: Clinical scales assessed trauma (CPC), anxiety (STAI), and depression (CDI) symptoms. Two groups were defined according to Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms: PTSS + vs PTSS - (CPC scores). Neuropsychological tests evaluating verbal episodic memory, visual memory, executive functions, and visuospatial processes were administered before the trial (August 2022) and after the trial (January 2023). Cognitive z-scores were adjusted to account for age differences between the two assessments. Repeated-measures ANOVA and correlation tests were performed between clinical scales and cognitive measures. RESULTS: Children from PTSS + group displayed greater depression and anxiety scores compared to the PTSS - group. Interestingly, depression symptoms decreased significantly after the trial, while anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms remained stable. Overall, participants showed lower performance in information processing and encoding after the trial, but no significant differences emerged between PTSS groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the impact of this court trial on clinical symptoms among trauma-exposed youth and the complex interplay between childhood trauma, PTSS and cognitive performance. Future research should explore these relationships further to optimize interventions for trauma-exposed youth.

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