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Impact of Intersecting Identities on Student Well-being
Purnima Valdez1, Andrea Diaz Stransky2, Crystal Grant3
1Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC.
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|September 8, 2025
Summary
A 12-year-old boy with anxiety experienced a traumatic school event involving law enforcement, leading to school avoidance and academic decline. Further evaluation is needed to address his trauma symptoms and facilitate school re-entry.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Behavioral Health
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- A 12-year-old boy with Specific Learning Disorder in Reading and Generalized Anxiety Disorder experienced an escalation of anxiety at school.
- A School Resource Officer's intervention bypassed established protocols, leading to an unnecessary psychiatric evaluation and temporary limitation of parental rights.
- The event resulted in significant school avoidance, academic deterioration, and the need for home-bound instruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the traumatic symptoms experienced by a pediatric patient following a school-based incident.
- To develop a comprehensive plan for the patient's return to school and academic reintegration.
- To assess the impact of anxiety and trauma on a child's learning and behavior.
Main Methods:
- Case study review of a pediatric patient with anxiety and learning disorder.
- Analysis of the patient's response to a school-based incident involving law enforcement.
- Review of therapeutic interventions including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and behavioral intervention plans (BIPs).
Main Results:
- The patient exhibited persistent school avoidance and a decline in academic performance (from A/B to D/F grades).
- Home-bound instruction was implemented, but compensatory services were denied.
- The patient's long-standing therapist initiated trauma-focused interventions to address the experienced events.
Conclusions:
- The case highlights the critical need for adherence to established protocols during student emotional dysregulation and the potential negative impact of inappropriate interventions.
- Effective management of pediatric anxiety and trauma is crucial for academic success and school re-entry.
- Multidisciplinary collaboration between families, schools, and mental health professionals is essential for supporting students with behavioral and emotional challenges.
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