Cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD in children and adolescents: a preliminary randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of individual trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and young people.


METHODS
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.
Drs. Smith, Perrin, Tranah, Yule, and Clark are with Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry; and Dr. Dalgleish is with the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.. Electronic address: patrick.smith@iop.kcl.ac.uk.
Patrick
P
Smith
Drs. Smith, Perrin, Tranah, Yule, and Clark are with Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry; and Dr. Dalgleish is with the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.
William
W
Yule
Drs. Smith, Perrin, Tranah, Yule, and Clark are with Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry; and Dr. Dalgleish is with the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Sean
S
Perrin
Drs. Smith, Perrin, Tranah, Yule, and Clark are with Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry; and Dr. Dalgleish is with the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Troy
T
Tranah
Drs. Smith, Perrin, Tranah, Yule, and Clark are with Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry; and Dr. Dalgleish is with the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Tim
T
Dalgleish
Drs. Smith, Perrin, Tranah, Yule, and Clark are with Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry; and Dr. Dalgleish is with the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.
David M
DM
Clark
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome