Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD
Abstract
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder could arise after a harrowing and distressing event which threatens a person’s safety or makes him or her to feel helpless. A lot of youngsters around the globe experience events that are traumatizing. It is notable that if exposure to trauma is not treated on time, it could bring about a range of mental health problems. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a components-based treatment model incorporating trauma-sensitive interventions with family, cognitive behavioral, in addition to humanistic techniques and principles. It can be used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder in youngsters. The research question for this study is: How effective is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the treatment of young people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? There is persuasive evidence base for TF-CBT in the treatment of PSTD. Nevertheless, few controlled trials have been carried out on very young children and are limited mainly to victims of sexual abuse. This study will fill this gap in existing knowledge. The participants include 46 trauma-exposed children aged 4-9. They are randomized to either the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy treatment group (n=23) or the Treatment as Usual group (n=23). Approval would be obtained from the appropriate Institutional Review Board.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD
It is normal, following a traumatic experience, for a person to feel disconnected, anxious, sad and frightened. However, if the distress does not fade and the individual feels stuck with a continuous sense of danger as well as harmful memories, then that person might in fact be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PSTD could develop after a traumatic incident which threatens one’s safety or makes one to feel helpless (Dalgleish, 2010). Coping with traumatic events could be very difficult, but confronting one’s feelings and seeking professional assistance is usually the only way to properly treat PSTD (Dalgleish, 2010). Many children and adolescents worldwide experience events that are traumatizing. If exposure to trauma is not treated, it could lead to various mental health problems (Kameoka et al., 2015). Researchers have reported a connection between traumatization and increases in mood and anxiety disorders, but the most frequently reported symptoms of psychological distress are post-traumatic stress symptoms (Cohen, Mannarino & Iyengar, 2011).
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is basically a conjoint parent and child psychotherapy approach for children and teenagers who are undergoing significant behavioral and emotional difficulties pertaining to traumatic life events (Jensen, Holt, Ormhaug, Egeland, Granly, Hoaas, Hukkelbergm & Indregard, 2014). In essence, it is a components-based treatment model incorporating trauma-sensitive interventions with family, cognitive behavioral, as well as humanistic techniques and principles. Parents and children learn new skills to help in processing feelings and thoughts relating to traumatic events in life; resolve and manage distressing behaviors, feelings, and thoughts that are related t...