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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Jan;27(1):140-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.11.003. Epub 2012 Dec 20.

Maternal depression and treatment gains following a cognitive behavioral intervention for posttraumatic stress in preschool children

Carl F Weems  1 , Michael S Scheeringa
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Maternal depression and treatment gains following a cognitive behavioral intervention for posttraumatic stress in preschool children

Carl F Weems et al. J Anxiety Disord. 2013 Jan.

Abstract

The evidence base for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat child emotional and behavioral symptoms following exposure to trauma in youth is compelling, but relatively few studies are available on preschool children and on moderators of treatment outcomes. This paper examines maternal and child characteristics as moderators of posttraumatic stress (PTS) treatment outcomes in preschool children. Outcome data from a previously published randomized trial in three to six year old preschool children with diagnostic interview data from participating mothers were used. Hypotheses were tested via hierarchical linear modeling. Maternal depression was associated with higher initial child posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and was associated with increasing PTSD symptom trends at follow up suggesting potential child PTSD symptom relapse. Maternal PTSD symptoms similarly predicted differential child separation anxiety symptom change but not child PTSD symptom change. Targeting dyads with child PTSD symptoms and maternal depression or PTSD symptoms with enhanced interventions may be a useful strategy to improve treatment maintenance.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Growth Curves Depicting the Influence of Maternal Depression on Treatment Maintenance of Child PTSD and SAD Symptoms
Figure 2
Figure 2
Growth Curves Depicting the Influence of Maternal PTSD on Treatment Maintenance of Child SAD Symptoms
Appendix 1
Appendix 1
Flow chart of group assignment, attrition, treatment completers, and six-month follow-up assessment. Note: IT = immediate treatment, WL = wait list
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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