Although the history of kidnapping and hostage-taking is a very long one, it is only relatively recently that there has been a systematic attempt to understand the effects, both long-term and short-term, on individuals and their families. This is an important issue for clinical and academic reasons. The advice of mental health professionals is sought with increasing frequency with regard to the strategic management of hostage incidents and the clinical management of those who have been abducted. There is evidence to suggest that how best to help those who have been taken hostage is a sensitive and complex matter, and those who deal with such individuals should be as well informed as possible since such events can have long-term adverse consequences, particularly on young children. This paper addresses the following: the background in terms of the history of this phenomenon, the motives behind it and the authorities' responses thereto; the psychological and physical effects of being taken hostage; coping and survival strategies; issues which require further research.
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Alexander et al. (2009) studied this question.