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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2007 Aug;46(8):1051-1061.
doi: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e318067e288.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD in children and adolescents: a preliminary randomized controlled trial

Patrick Smith  1 , William Yule  2 , Sean Perrin  2 , Troy Tranah  2 , Tim Dalgleish  2 , David M Clark  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD in children and adolescents: a preliminary randomized controlled trial

Patrick Smith et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of individual trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and young people.

Method: Following a 4-week symptom-monitoring baseline period, 24 children and young people (8-18 years old) who met full DSM-IV PTSD diagnostic criteria after experiencing single-incident traumatic events (motor vehicle accidents, interpersonal violence, or witnessing violence) were randomly allocated to a 10-week course of individual CBT or to placement on a waitlist (WL) for 10 weeks.

Results: Compared to the WL group, participants who received CBT showed significantly greater improvement in symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, with significantly better functioning. After CBT, 92% of participants no longer met criteria for PTSD; after WL, 42% of participants no longer met criteria. CBT gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Effects of CBT were partially mediated by changes in maladaptive cognitions, as predicted by cognitive models of PTSD.

Conclusions: Individual trauma-focused CBT is an effective treatment for PTSD in children and young people.

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