title: Complex trauma in children and adolescents: evidence-based practice in clinical settings.
abstract: Complex trauma (CT) results from exposure to severe stressors that occur within the caregiver system or with another presumably responsible adult, are repetitive, and begin in childhood or adolescence. As a result, many of these children and adolescents experience lifelong difficulties related to self-regulation, relationships, psychological symptoms, alterations in attention and consciousness, self-injury, identity, and cognitive distortions. The aims of this article include the following: (a) to examine several representative approaches identified as treatments for children and adolescents exposed to CT with respect to similarities and differences; (b) to examine representative evidence of model effectiveness; (c) to discuss how these approaches are and/or could be implemented in clinical practice; and (d) to suggest research designs that would facilitate greater translation of effective treatment into clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Services, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3019, USA. lawsondm@sfasu.edu
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004644:Emotions; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*