OBJECTIVE: To examine the differential efficacy of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and child-centered therapy for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related emotional and behavioral problems in children who have suffered sexual abuse. METHOD: Two hundred twenty-nine 8- to 14-year-old children and their primary caretakers were randomly assigned to the above alternative treatments. These children had significant symptoms of PTSD, with 89% meeting full DSM-IV PTSD diagnostic criteria. More than 90% of these children had experienced traumatic events in addition to sexual abuse. RESULTS: A series analyses of covariance indicated that children assigned to TF-CBT, compared to those assigned to child-centered therapy, demonstrated significantly more improvement with regard to PTSD, depression, behavior problems, shame, and abuse-related attributions. Similarly, parents assigned to TF-CBT showed greater improvement with respect to their own self-reported levels of depression, abuse-specific distress, support of the child, and effective parenting practices. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the growing evidence supporting the efficacy of TF-CBT with children suffering PTSD as a result of sexual abuse and suggests the efficacy of this treatment for children who have experienced multiple traumas.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To examine the differential efficacy of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and child-centered therapy for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related emotional and behavioral problems in children who have suffered sexual abuse. METHOD: Two hundred twenty-nine 8- to 14-year-old children and their primary caretakers were randomly assigned to the above alternative treatments. These children had significant symptoms of PTSD, with 89% meeting full DSM-IV PTSD diagnostic criteria. More than 90% of these children had experienced traumatic events in addition to sexual abuse. RESULTS: A series analyses of covariance indicated that children assigned to TF-CBT, compared to those assigned to child-centered therapy, demonstrated significantly more improvement with regard to PTSD, depression, behavior problems, shame, and abuse-related attributions. Similarly, parents assigned to TF-CBT showed greater improvement with respect to their own self-reported levels of depression, abuse-specific distress, support of the child, and effective parenting practices. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the growing evidence supporting the efficacy of TF-CBT with children suffering PTSD as a result of sexual abuse and suggests the efficacy of this treatment for children who have experienced multiple traumas.
Authors: J Kaufman; B Birmaher; D Brent; U Rao; C Flynn; P Moreci; D Williamson; N Ryan Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1997-07 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: N J King; B J Tonge; P Mullen; N Myerson; D Heyne; S Rollings; R Martin; T H Ollendick Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2000-11 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Andrea M Jones; Kristen M Shealy; Kathryn Reid-Quiñones; Angela D Moreland; Tatiana M Davidson; Cristina M López; Simone C Barr; Michael A de Arellano Journal: Psychol Serv Date: 2013-12-09
Authors: K C Koenen; J A Sumner; P Gilsanz; M M Glymour; A Ratanatharathorn; E B Rimm; A L Roberts; A Winning; L D Kubzansky Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2016-10-04 Impact factor: 7.723