Treatment research for children and youth exposed to traumatic events: moving beyond efficacy to amp up public health impact

Abstract

Objective: Population-based demands for trauma services have accelerated interest in the rapid deployment of efficacious interventions to address the diverse mental health consequences of traumatic experiences. However, optimal strategies for supporting either implementation or dissemination of trauma-focused interventions within healthcare or mental healthcare systems are underdeveloped.

Methods: This work offers suggestions for adapting treatment research parameters in order to advance the science on the implementable and practical use of trauma-focused interventions within a public health framework. To this end, we briefly examine the current status of research evidence in this area and discuss efficacy and effectiveness treatment research parameters with specific attention to the implications for developing the research base on the implementation and dissemination of effective trauma practices for children and adolescents.

Results: Examples from current studies are used to identify approaches for developing, testing and enhancing strategies to roll out effective treatment practices in real-world settings.

Conclusions: New approaches that reflect the contexts in which these practices are implemented may enhance the feasibility, acceptability, replicability and sustainability of trauma treatments and services, and thus improve outcomes for a broader population of youth and families.