Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD in children

January 01, 0001

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD in children

These US investigators conducted a randomized controlled trial using blinded evaluators to evaluate community-provided trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) compared with usual community treatment for children with intimate partner violence (IPV)-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Of 140 consecutively referred 7- to 14-year-old children, 124 participated. Children and mothers were randomly assigned to receive 8 sessions of TF-CBT or usual care (child-centered therapy).

They found: "Intent-to-treat analysis using last observation carried forward showed superior outcomes for TF-CBT on the total Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS- PL) (mean difference, 1.63), University of California at Los Angeles PTSD Reaction Index (mean difference, 5.5), K-SADS-PL hyperarousal (mean difference, 0.71), K-SADS-PL avoidance (0.55; 0.07-1.03), and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) (mean difference, 5.13). Multiple imputation analyses confirmed most of these findings. The TF-CBT completers experienced significantly greater PTSD diagnostic remission and had significantly fewer serious adverse events."

The authors concluded: "Community TF-CBT effectively improves children's IPV-related PTSD and anxiety."

This sounds like a promising approach and should be replicated in other studies including other causes of PTSD.

For the full abstract, click here.

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 165(1):16-21, January 2011 © 2011 to the American Medical Association
Community Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Judith A. Cohen, Anthony P. Mannarino, Satish Iyengar. Correspondence to Dr. Cohen: [email protected]

Category: P.Psychological, Z. Social Problems. Keywords: post traumatic stress disorder, children, intimate partner violence, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, randomized controlled trial, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 18 January 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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