Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adolescents: Assessing the Evidence

Summary & key facts

The authors looked at the evidence for Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, a structured talk therapy for children and teens who have been through traumatic events. They found TF-CBT can reduce trauma-related symptoms for some young people and can also help caregivers who did not cause the harm. Because of these findings, the authors say health insurance plans should cover TF-CBT. They also say more research is needed to learn how best to use TF-CBT in different clinics, with children of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, with different types of trauma, and at different stages of development.

Key facts:

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a type of structured talk therapy aimed at helping children and adolescents who experienced trauma.
• The evidence shows TF-CBT can reduce trauma-related symptoms for some children who have experienced trauma.
• TF-CBT also showed benefits for nonoffending caregivers — adults who care for the child but were not involved in the traumatic event.
• Based on the existing evidence, the authors recommend that health insurance plans should cover TF-CBT as a service.
• The authors note that more research is needed to identify the best ways to deliver TF-CBT across different settings, racial and ethnic groups, types of trauma, and stages of intellectual, social, and emotional development.

Abstract

TF-CBT is a viable treatment for reducing trauma-related symptoms among some children who have experienced trauma and their nonoffending caregivers. Based on this evidence, TF-CBT should be available as a covered service in health plans. Ongoing research is needed to further identify best practices for TF-CBT in various settings and with individuals from various racial and ethnic backgrounds and with varied trauma histories, symptoms, and stages of intellectual, social, and emotional development.

Topics

Child Abuse and Trauma Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Migration, Health and Trauma

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Child abuse Clinical psychology Cognition Cognitive behavioral therapy Cognitive therapy Depression (economics) Economics Macroeconomics Medical emergency Medicine Neglect Physical abuse Poison control Psychiatry Psychological abuse Psychology Sexual abuse Suicide prevention

Conditions & symptoms

PTSD