Perceptlmf arzd~Mofor Skills, 2000,90, 1295-1298. O Perceprual and Motor Skills 2000 IMAGE CONTROL AND POSTTRAUMATIC SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN FOLLOWING SCUD MISSILE ATTACKS ' NATHANIEL LAOR AND LEO WOLMER Tel-Aviv Commu~zity Mental Health Center Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv U~tiversity Yale Child Study Center Szlmmaty.-Based on previous studies reporting an association between high im- age control and low posttraumadc sympton~s in adults exposed ro a traumatic event, this study explored whether a high capacity for image control by children may serve as protective factor against the long-term effect of trauma. The sample consisted of 39 children displaced due ro the destruction of their homes aher the missile attack on Tel-Aviv during the Gulf War. Analysis confirmed the hypothesis that low scores on the Test of Visual Image Control were associated with specilic posttraumatic symp- toms but not with general ones. Since Gordon's (1949) study fifty years ago, investigators have attempt- ed to assess empirically differences between individuals with a high and a low capacity for image control. The literature shows that a high capacity for image control is associated with cognitive performance such as intehgence or creativity (Khatena, 1975; Tedford & Penk, 1977; Shaw & DeMers, 1986), personality maturity (Stricklin & Penk, 1980) and affective regulation follow- ing trauma (Laor, Wolmer, Wiener, Reiss, Muller, Weizman, & Ron, 1998). Most stuhes, however, involved adult populations. Kossl~n, Margolis, Barrett, Goldknopf, and Daly (1990) have demon- strated that imagery abhties change from childhood to adulthood. Wolmer, Laor, and Toren (1999) have recently showed a significant increase in image control froin childhood to adolescence Moreover, compared to children with uncontrolled imagery, children with h~gh unage control were judged by their teachers ro have better intellectual abhties (reading and comprehension, written and oral expression, intellectual and creativity) and more emotional maturity. The present study investigates the relationship between children's capac- ity for image control and their synlptomatic reactions five years after their ex- posure to a traumatic event. Children's responses to trauma have been well- documented (Laor, Wolnler, Mayes, Golomb, Silverberg, Weizman, & Co- hen, 1996; Pfefferbaum, 1997). These include general reactions such as inter- nalizing (e.g., depression, withdrawal), externalizing (e.g., aggression, acting- 'Address enquiries to Nathaniel Laor, M.D., Ph.D., Td-Avl~ Community Mental Health Cen- ter, 9 Harzvi Street, Tel-Aviv 67197, Israel or e-mail (nl~or@~~crvision.net.d).