Disorders - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Gillies, D., Taylor, F., Gray, C., O'Brien, L., D'Abrew, N.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and has high personal
and health costs. Although a wide range of psychological therapies have been used in the treatment of PTSD there are no systematic reviews of these
therapies in children and adolescents. To examine the effectiveness of psychological therapies in treating children and adolescents who have been
diagnosed with PTSD. We searched the Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Review Group's Specialised Register (CCDANCTR) to December 2011. The
CCDANCTR includes relevant randomised controlled trials from the following bibliographic databases: CENTRAL (the Cochrane Central Register of
Controlled Trials) (all years), EMBASE (1974 -), MEDLINE (1950 -) and PsycINFO (1967 -). We also checked reference lists of relevant studies and
reviews. We applied no date or language restrictions. All randomised controlled trials of psychological therapies compared to a control,
pharmacological therapy or other treatments in children or adolescents exposed to a traumatic event or diagnosed with PTSD. Two members of the review
group independently extracted data. If differences were identified, they were resolved by consensus, or referral to the review team.We calculated the
odds ratio (OR) for binary outcomes, the standardised mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for both,
using a fixed-effect model. If heterogeneity was found we used a random-effects model. Fourteen studies including 758 participants were included in
this review. The types of trauma participants had been exposed to included sexual abuse, civil violence, natural disaster, domestic violence and
motor vehicle accidents. Most participants were clients of a trauma-related support service.The psychological therapies used in these studies were
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), exposure-based, psychodynamic, narrative, supportive counselling, and eye movement desensitisation and
reprocessing (EMDR). Most compared a psychological therapy to a control group. No study compared psychological therapies to pharmacological therapies
alone or as an adjunct to a psychological therapy.Across all psychological therapies, improvement was significantly better (three studies, n = 80, OR
4.21, 95% CI 1.12 to 15.85) and symptoms of PTSD (seven studies, n = 271, SMD -0.90, 95% CI -1.24 to -0.42), anxiety (three studies, n = 91, SMD -
0.57, 95% CI -1.00 to -0.13) and depression (five studies, n = 156, SMD -0.74, 95% CI -1.11 to -0.36) were significantly lower within a month of
completing psychological therapy compared to a control group.
Cochrane Database of Systematic
Reviews, 12 : CD006726
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any)
Greyber, Laura R., Dulmus, Catherine N., Cristalli, Maria E.
This article examines the methodological rigor of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of eye movement
desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) conducted specifically with children and adolescents who had a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and
history of trauma. A thorough search for RCTs of EMDR with children and adolescents that were published between 1998 and 2010 was conducted utilizing
several databases. A total of five studies were identified. Following an extensive review of the literature, it became apparent that the number of
RCTs conducted with EMDR with children and adolescents was negligible, though initial results suggest that it is a promising practice. Although
current EMDR studies have been conducted with children and adolescents, and have indicated that EMDR is a promising practice, the state of knowledge
at this point is insufficient. EMDR tends to produce less positive results when compared to other trauma-focused interventions, although some
research indicates the opposite. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 29(5) : 409-425
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
Lange-Nielsen, Ida Ingridsdatter, Kolltveit, Silje, Mousa Thabet, Abdel
Aziz, Dyregrov, Atle, Pallesen, Ståle, Johnsen, Tom
Backer, Laberg, Jon Christian
This study evaluates the effect of a short-term group intervention titled Writing
for Recovery in Gaza. Adolescents (N = 139) aged 12 - 17 were randomly assigned to an intervention or to a waiting list group. Levels of distress
were assessed at baseline and at posttest. A follow-up assessment was conducted 5 months after both groups had received the intervention. Results at
posttest showed a reduction in posttraumatic stress symptoms in both groups, an increase in depression in the intervention group, and no change in
anxiety symptoms. At follow-up, a significant decline in depression scores was evident. Overall, no evidence for improvements due to the intervention
was found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Journal of Loss & Trauma, 17(5) : 403-
422
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art
Hasanovic, M., Husanovic, J., Srabovic, S., Haskic, E., Lukic, D., Jaganjac, A.
Aim: To estimate whether psychosocial support of the School Project UHD nullPrijateljice-Friendsnull positively affect on reducing of
posttraumatic sequel in Bosnia-Herzegovina among school adolescents, after the war period 1992-1995. Methods: The stratified sample of 507 students,
aged of 13.7(plus or minus)1.0 (10 to16) years, in primary and secondary schools, involved in psychosocial support, compared with 78 randomly
selected peers from the same schools, not involved in this project. Data were collected in February 2010 and in May 2010. The Children Depression
Inventory and DSM III R questionnaire for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were utilized. Results: All adolescents reported experience of (mean
(plus or minus)standard deviation=5.4(plus or minus)2.7) without significant differences between observed and control group (F=0.001, P=0.980,
ANOVA). Symptoms of PTSD and depressiveness among students involved in the School Project, significantly reduced from (mean(plus or minus)standard
deviation=6.5(plus or minus)3.3 to 4.9(plus or minus)3.5; 7.1(plus or minus)4.5 to 5.8(plus or minus)5.2, respectively) (t=8.524, P< 0.001; t=4.792,
P< 0.001, respectively, Pared Samples Test). In the control group severity of PTSD symptoms reduced from 6.6(plus or minus)3.4 to 6.5(plus or
minus)3.6 (t=0.354, P=0.723, Pared Samples Test), while depressiveness increased from 8.7(plus or minus)6.9 to 11.8(plus or minus)6.9 (t= - 3.387,
P=0.001, Pared Samples Test). Conclusions: Adolescents in this study reported surviving of multiple traumas. Psychosocial support within the School
Project resulted with significant reduction of PTSD symptoms severity and severity of depressiveness amongst involved students compared to controls.
Schools and other institutions ought to envisage as many as possible projects to be implemented in schools and out-of-schools in order to assist
youth to easier overcome consequences of no favorable war in their development.
European
Psychiatry, 27 :
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depressive Disorders
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Hirai, M., Skidmore, S. T., Clum, G. A., Dolma, S.
This study compared the efficacy of 2 online
expressive writing protocols for a traumatic/stressful life event in a Hispanic student sample. Participants who had reported a traumatic event were
randomly assigned to either the emotion-focused group or the fact-focused group. The emotion-focused group focused their written accounts on emotions
and feelings as well as facts about a stressful/traumatic experience, whereas the fact-focused group focused on facts of a stressful/traumatic event.
Both groups completed 3 online writing sessions scheduled for 3 consecutive days, a 1-week online follow-up assessment, and a 5-week online follow-up
assessment. Both groups statistically significantly reduced trauma symptoms over time with the emotion-focused group demonstrating statistically
significantly greater trauma symptom reductions than the fact-focused group at the 5-week follow-up assessment. (copyright) 2012.
Behavior Therapy, 43(4) : 812-824
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Service Delivery & Improvement, Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Kalantari, M., Yule, W., Dyregrov, A., Neshatdoost, H., Ahmadi, S. J.
Effective evidence-based intervention for traumatic bereavement is one of the current major research issues in the field of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. The \"Writing for Recovery\" group intervention is a new treatment approach developed
by the Children and War Foundation for traumatized and bereaved children and adolescents after disasters. The purpose of this project was an
empirical examination of this intervention with 12- to 18-year-old war bereaved Afghani refugees. Eighty-eight war bereaved Afghani refugees were
screened using the Traumatic Grief Inventory for Children (TGIC). From those with the highest total score, 61 were randomly assigned to either an
experimental (n = 29) or control group (n = 32). The experimental group received six sessions of group training on 3 consecutive days in their
school. The difference of TGIC scores between the experimental group in pretest and posttest was significant (p = 0.001). Results of analysis of
covariance also showed a significant effect of Writing for Recovery on the experimental group (p < 0.001). It is concluded that \"Writing for
Recovery\" is an effective group intervention for bereaved children and adolescents after disasters. (copyright) 2012, Baywood Publishing Co.,
Inc.
Omega, 65(2) : 139-
150
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Creative expression: music, dance, drama, art
Berger, R., Gelkopf, M., Heineberg, Y.
Purpose: For the past 8 years, the residents of
Sderot - a town in southern Israel - have been exposed to ongoing and intense war-related threat due to daily rocket attacks and mortar shelling from
the adjacent Gaza region. This study first evaluates the prevalence of posttraumatic symptomatology in a sample of seventh- and eighth-grade
students, and then assesses the efficacy of a universal teacher-delivered skill-oriented and present-focused intervention in preventing and reducing
adolescents' posttraumatic stress-related symptoms. Method: In a quasi-randomized controlled trial, 154 seventh- and eighth-grade students with
significant levels of war-related exposure were assigned to participate in either a manualized active 16-session intervention (Extended Enhancing
Resiliency Amongst Students Experiencing Stress, ERASE-Stress) or a waiting-list control group. They were assessed using self-report measures before
and after the intervention on posttraumatic stress-related symptoms, somatic complaints, functional impairment, and anxiety. Results: At baseline,
43.5% were found to have a likely diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. A month after the intervention ended, students in the active
intervention showed statistically significant reduction on all outcome measures compared with those in the waiting-list control group. Conclusions:
Extended ERASE-Stress - a universal teacher-delivered skill-oriented program not targeting traumatic memories and involving trained and supervised
homeroom teachers - may help students suffering from significant war-related posttraumatic symptoms reduce their level of symptomatology and can
serve as an important and effective component of a community mental health policy for communities affected by chronic trauma, such as war and
terrorism. (copyright) 2012 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 51(5) : 453-
461
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Psychoeducation, Skills training, Other Psychological Interventions
Ford, J. D., Steinberg, K. L., Hawke, J., Levine, J., Zhang, W.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent in youth involved in delinquency, but it is often not effectively treated. A randomized
clinical trial was conducted comparing the outcomes of an emotion regulation therapy (Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy, or
TARGET) with a relational supportive therapy (Enhanced Treatment as Usual, or ETAU) with 59 delinquent girls (age 13-17 years) who met criteria for
full or partial PTSD. Mixed model regression analyses demonstrated generally large effects for pre-post change in PTSD symptoms for both therapies
but not in emotion regulation. Both therapies had small to medium effect size changes in anxiety, anger, depression, and posttraumatic cognitions.
Treatment null Time interactions showed small to medium effects favoring TARGET for change in PTSD (intrusive reexperiencing and avoidance) and
anxiety symptoms, posttraumatic cognitions, and emotion regulation, and favoring ETAU for change in hope and anger. Results provide preliminary
support for TARGET as a potentially efficacious therapy for PTSD with delinquent girls. Relational therapies such as ETAU also may be beneficial for
delinquent girls with PTSD, particularly to enhance optimism and self-efficacy and reduce anger. (copyright) Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 41(1) : 27-37
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Supportive
therapy, Other Psychological Interventions
Cary, Colleen E., McMillen, J. Curtis
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is one of the most widely disseminated
mental health interventions for children and youth. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the evidence of TF-CBT's ability to reduce
symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression and behavior problems in children and youth who have survived trauma. A search was conducted to locate
studies that evaluated TF-CBT or interventions highly similar to TF-CBT. Ten studies (twelve articles) were selected for inclusion in three sets of
meta-analyses. Findings were consistent amongst meta-analyses; pooled estimates were similar whether we were analyzing the effects of interventions
that were highly similar to TF-CBT, or if we were exclusively analyzing the effects of the branded intervention. Results show that there is a
significant difference between the TFCBT condition and comparison conditions in its ability to reduce symptoms of PTSD (g = .671), depression (g =
.378) and behavior problems (g = .247) immediately after treatment completion. This difference held for PTSD at twelve months after treatment
completion (.389) but did not hold for depression or behavior problems. There was not a significant difference between the TF-CBT condition and
alternative active control conditions immediately after treatment completion. Therefore, TF-CBT is an effective intervention for the treatment of
PTSD in youth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Children & Youth Services Review, 34(4) : 748-
757
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-
CBT)
Church, Dawson, Pina, Oscar, Reategui, Carla, Brooks, Audrey
The population for this study was drawn from an institution to which juveniles are sent by court order if
they are found by a judge to be physically or psychologically abused at home. Sixteen males, aged 12-17, were randomized into two groups. They were
assessed using subjective distress (SUD), and the Impact of Events Scale (IES), which measures two components of PTSD: intrusive memories and
avoidance symptoms. The experimental group was treated with a single session of EFT (emotional freedom techniques), a brief and novel exposure
therapy that has been found efficacious in reducing PTSD and co-occurring psychological symptoms in adults, but has not been subject to empirical
assessment in juveniles. The wait list control group received no treatment. Thirty days later, participants were reassessed. No improvement occurred
in the wait list (IES total mean pre = 32 SD ± 4.82, post = 31 SD ± 3.84). Posttest scores for all experimental-group participants improved to the
point where all were nonclinical on the total score, as well as the intrusive and avoidant symptom subscales, and SUD (IES total mean pre = 36 SD ±
4.74, post = 3 SD ± 2.60, p < .001). These results are consistent with those found in adults, and indicates the utility of single-session EFT as a
fast and effective intervention for reducing psychological trauma in juveniles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved) (journal
abstract)
Traumatology, 18(3) : 73-
79
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Exposure therapy, Exposure
and response prevention
Berkowitz, Steven
J., Stover, Carla Smith, Marans, Steven R.
Objective: This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a four-session, caregiver–child
Intervention, the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), to prevent the development of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
provided within 30 days of exposure to a potentially traumatic event (PTE). Method: One-hundred seventy-six 7 to 17-year-old youth were recruited
through telephone screening based on report of one new distressing posttraumatic stress symptom after a PTE. Of those, 106 youth were randomly
assigned to the Intervention (n = 53) or a four-session supportive Comparison condition (N = 53). Group differences in symptom severity were assessed
using repeated measures with mixed effects models of intervention group, time, and the interaction of intervention and time. Logistic regression
analyses were performed to assess treatment condition and any subsequent traumas experienced as predictors for full and partial PTSD diagnosis at 3-
month follow-up. An exploratory chi-square analysis was performed to examine the differences in PTSD symptom criteria B, C, and D at follow-up.
Results: At baseline, youth in both groups had similar demographics, past trauma exposures and symptom severity. At follow-up, the Intervention group
demonstrated significantly fewer full and partial PTSD diagnoses than the Comparison group on a standardized diagnostic measure of PTSD. Also, there
was a significant group by time interaction for Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children’s Posttraumatic Stress and Anxiety Indices as the CFTSI group
had significantly lower posttraumatic and anxiety scores than the Comparison group. Conclusions: The results suggest that a caregiver–youth, brief
preventative early intervention for youth exposed to a PTE is a promising approach to preventing chronic PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012
APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 52(6) : 676-685
- Year: 2011
- Problem: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Supportive
therapy, Other Psychological Interventions
Davis-III,
TE., May, Anna., Whiting, Sara E.
Research on treatments for childhood anxiety disorders has increased greatly in
recent decades. As a result, it has become increasingly necessary to synthesize the findings of these treatment studies into reviews in order to draw
wider conclusions on the efficacy of treatments for childhood anxiety. Previous reviews of this literature have used varying criteria to determine
the evidence base. For the current review, stricter criteria consistent with the original Task Force (1995) guidelines were used to select and
evaluate studies. Studies were divided by anxiety disorder; however, many studies combine various anxiety disorders in their samples. As a result,
these were included in a combined anxiety disorder group. Using more traditional guidelines, studies were assigned a status of well-established,
probably efficacious, or experimental based on the available literature and the quality of the studies. While some treatments do meet the criteria
for well-established status, it is clear from this examination that gaps remain and replication is necessary to establish many of these treatments as
efficacious. In addition, there still appears to be a lack of research on the effects of treatment on the physiological and cognitive aspects of fear
and anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Clinical Psychology Review, 31(4) : 592-
602
- Year: 2011
- Problem: Anxiety Disorders (any), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Social phobia (social anxiety disorder), Specific
Phobia
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Biological Interventions
(any), Psychological Interventions
(any)