A Randomized Controlled Study of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress in Street Children in Mexico City.
The study aimed to evaluate cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for posttraumatic stress (PTS), depression, anxiety, and anger in street children by a randomized controlled trial of CBT versus a waitlist control. It was conducted in 8 residential facilities for street children in Mexico City, with assessments at baseline, posttreatment, and 3 months later. Children who reported at least moderate posttraumatic stress, and fulfilled the study requirement were enrolled in the study (N = 100, 12-18 years old, 36 boys). There were 51 children randomized to CBT and 49 to the waitlist condition. Randomization was stratified by gender. CBT consisted of 12 individual 1-hour sessions administered weekly by 2 trained, master's-level clinicians. Outcome measures included self-reports of PTS, depression, anxiety, and anger; global improvement was assessed by the independent evaluator. Compared to participants in the waitlist condition participants in CBT showed a significant reduction in all symptoms, with effects sizes of 1.73 to 1.75. At follow up there was attrition (n = 36), and no change from posttreatment scores. The study did find statistically significant improvement in symptoms in the CBT group compared to the waitlist condition; symptoms remained stable at 3 months. The study found that CBT for trauma in a sample of street children provided a reduction of a broad range of mental health symptoms.
Centro de Investigación en Psicoterapia Psicoanalítica AC, CIPPAC, Mexico City, Mexico.
Janet
J
Shein-Szydlo
Child Study Center, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Denis G
DG
Sukhodolsky
ABC Neurology Center, ABC Medical Center, Mexico City, Mexico.
David Szydlo
DS
Kon
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
Miguel Marin
MM
Tejeda
Procuraduría de la Defensa del Menor y la Familia, Querétaro, Mexico City, Mexico.
Esteli
E
Ramirez
Child Study Center, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. vladislav.ruchkin@yale.edu.|Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. vladislav.ruchkin@yale.edu.|Säter Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Säter, Sweden. vladislav.ruchkin@yale.edu.
Vladislav
V
Ruchkin
D000293:Adolescent; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome