Psychotherapeutic options for traumatized children.
OBJECTIVE
This review addresses two issues. First, it updates readers on new treatments for traumatized children. Second, it examines the breadth of target problems that current evidence-based treatments for child posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) effectively address in the context of current diagnostic uncertainty. Specifically, changes have been proposed to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for PTSD and a proposal has been submitted to add a new developmental trauma disorder to optimally describe the range of outcomes experienced by traumatized children.


RESULTS
Three recently completed treatment studies are described. A review of five established child trauma treatments for PTSD, child-parent psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral interventions for trauma in schools, cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD, structured psychotherapy for adolescents responding to chronic stress, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy documents that these treatments effectively resolve problems in multiple domains beyond the current PTSD diagnostic criteria. These domains include affective dysregulation, behavioral dysregulation, cognitive dysregulation, and relational dysregulation.


CONCLUSIONS
New treatments for children are promising for treating PTSD and some other symptoms. Current evidence-based child trauma treatments address a broad array of trauma-related difficulties.
Cohen
Judith A
JA
Center for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents, Department of Psychiatry, Allegheny General Hospital, Drexel University College of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Jcohen1@wpahs.org
Mannarino
Anthony P
AP
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1996 Jan;35(1):42-50
8567611
Child Abuse Negl. 2005 Feb;29(2):135-45
15734179
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2005 Dec;44(12):1241-8
16292115
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011 Jan;165(1):16-21
21199975
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003 Mar;42(3):311-8
12595784
Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2009;11(1):91-9
19432391
School Ment Health. 2009 Jun 1;1(2):49-60
20811511
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2004 Apr;43(4):393-402
15187799
J Trauma Stress. 2010 Apr;23(2):223-31
20419730
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1996 Oct;35(10):1402-10
8885595
J Trauma Stress. 2010 Aug;23(4):437-45
20684019
JAMA. 2003 Aug 6;290(5):603-11
12902363
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008 Sep;47(9):1048-62
18664995
Dev Psychopathol. 2002 Fall;14(4):877-908
12549708
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2000 Nov;39(11):1347-55
11068889
Child Abuse Negl. 2000 Jul;24(7):983-94
10905421
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007 Aug;46(8):1051-1061
17667483