TY - JOUR
T1 - A multisite, randomized controlled trial for children with sexual abuse-related PTSD symptoms
AU - Cohen, Judith A.
AU - Deblinger, Esther
AU - Mannarino, Anthony P.
AU - Steer, Robert A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by the NIMH grants R10 MH55963 and R10 MH56224 .
PY - 2004/4
Y1 - 2004/4
N2 - Objective: To examine the differential efficacy of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and childcentered therapy for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related emotional and behavioral problems in children who have suffered sexual abuse. Method: Two hundred twenty-nine 8- to 14-year-old children and their primary caretakers were randomly assigned to the above alternative treatments. These children had significant symptoms of PTSD, with 89% meeting full DSM-IV PTSD diagnostic criteria. More than 90% of these children had experienced traumatic events in addition to sexual abuse. Results: A series analyses of covariance indicated that children assigned to TF-CBT, compared to those assigned to child-centered therapy, demonstrated significantly more improvement with regard to PTSD, depression, behavior problems, shame, and abuse-related attributions. Similarly, parents assigned to TF-CBT showed greater improvement with respect to their own self-reported levels of depression, abuse-specific distress, support of the child, and effective parenting practices. Conclusions: This study adds to the growing evidence supporting the efficacy of TF-CBT with children suffering PTSD as a result of sexual abuse and suggests the efficacy of this treatment for children who have experienced multiple traumas.
AB - Objective: To examine the differential efficacy of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and childcentered therapy for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related emotional and behavioral problems in children who have suffered sexual abuse. Method: Two hundred twenty-nine 8- to 14-year-old children and their primary caretakers were randomly assigned to the above alternative treatments. These children had significant symptoms of PTSD, with 89% meeting full DSM-IV PTSD diagnostic criteria. More than 90% of these children had experienced traumatic events in addition to sexual abuse. Results: A series analyses of covariance indicated that children assigned to TF-CBT, compared to those assigned to child-centered therapy, demonstrated significantly more improvement with regard to PTSD, depression, behavior problems, shame, and abuse-related attributions. Similarly, parents assigned to TF-CBT showed greater improvement with respect to their own self-reported levels of depression, abuse-specific distress, support of the child, and effective parenting practices. Conclusions: This study adds to the growing evidence supporting the efficacy of TF-CBT with children suffering PTSD as a result of sexual abuse and suggests the efficacy of this treatment for children who have experienced multiple traumas.
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U2 - 10.1097/00004583-200404000-00005
DO - 10.1097/00004583-200404000-00005
M3 - Article
C2 - 15187799
AN - SCOPUS:2942700276
VL - 43
SP - 393
EP - 402
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
SN - 0890-8567
IS - 4
ER -