None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The TraumaFocused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) manualized protocol is a component of the QLD Health child and adolescent mental health stepped care response to the 2011 flood and cyclone disasters. This intervention is only being offered to children identified through a two stage screening process as experiencing a posttraumatic mental health problem following the 2011 QLD disasters. The protocol consists of 2 parent sessions and 8 sessions of individual therapy with children. Sessions are conducted in children’s schools during school hours in order to minimize the inconvenience experienced by families. The followup assessments (to be conducted posttreatment, 6 and 12 months following completion of treatment) consist of the same tools used to identify children in the first instance through screening. These consist of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, the UCLA PTSDReaction Index, the Children's Depression Inventory, and the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children (parent and child versions). The broad aims of the intervention are to improve parents’ confidence and competence in managing their children’s posttraumatic mental health problems; and to reduce children’s symptomatology. TF-CBT has the strongest evidence base of any psychological therapy with children experiencing posttraumatic mental health problems.
Interventions
The intervention evaluated was a cognitive-behavioural manualized intervention with a trauma focus ("My story of the floods", Cobham & McDermott, 2011). It consisted of 2 parent/caregiver sessions (1.5 hours duration each), followed by up to 8 individually administered child/adolescent sessions (1.5 hours duration each). Within the 8 child/adolescent sessions, there was an optional session (focusing on grief) which the majority of children did not require. A brief (~30 minutes) booster session w
The intervention evaluated was a cognitive-behavioural manualized intervention with a trauma focus ("My story of the floods", Cobham & McDermott, 2011). It consisted of 2 parent/caregiver sessions (1.5 hours duration each), followed by up to 8 individually administered child/adolescent sessions (1.5 hours duration each). Within the 8 child/adolescent sessions, there was an optional session (focusing on grief) which the majority of children did not require. A brief (~30 minutes) booster session was offered between 2 and 4 weeks after the completion of the intervention. All children were provided with a therapy workbook. The intervention was delivered by therapists who were either Clinical Psychology trainees completing a partial externship on this project under the supervision of Dr. Cobham, or experienced mental health clinicians (clinical psychologists and one psychiatrist - all with more than 5 years experience). All therapists completed training in the manualized protocol, delivered by Dr. Cobham. Treatment was conducted at children's schools in a face to face format. Sessions were weekly over a 12-14 week period (including the booster session). Only the trauma narrative component of each session was routinely recorded, however, each child's workbook was photocopied, so some measure of treatment adherence will be able to be extrapolated from this.
Sponsors
Vanessa Cobham
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
7 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Children who received the evaluated intervention were part of the 2011 Queensland Child and Youth Disaster Response, the overarching public health initiative funded by the Federal government, under which this intervention was delivered and evaluated. Eligible youth were those living in disaster affected areas in the Lockyer Valley of Queensland, Australia during the floods of January 2011. Eligible youth had parental consent to participate in a 2-stage screening process which was conducted in their schools. Eligible youth had to have proceeded to the second stage of screening (the diagnostic interview) and to have met criteria for flood-related PTSD on the diagnostic interview in order to be included in the intervention.
Exclusion criteria
Youth were excluded if their parents/caregivers did not consent for them to participate in treatment; if they did not meet criteria on the diagnostic interview for flood-related PTSD; or if they had a pre-existing trauma history that indicated that more intensive treatment might be required.
Outcome results
None listed