Citation (APA style): Mavranezouli, I., Megnin”Viggars, O., Daly, C., Dias, S., Stockton, S., Meiser”Stedman, R., Trickey, D., & Pilling, S. (2020). Research review: Psychological and psychosocial treatments for children and young people with post”traumatic stress disorder: A network meta”analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(1), 18-29. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13094
Abstract
Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a potentially chronic and disabling disorder that affects a significant minority of youth exposed to trauma. Previous studies have concluded that trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) is an effective treatment for PTSD in youth, but the relative strengths of different psychological therapies are poorly understood.
Methods: We undertook a systematic review and network metaanalyses of psychological and psychosocial interventions for children and young people with PTSD. Outcomes included PTSD symptom change scores post-treatment and at 1—4-month follow-up, and remission post-treatment.
Results: We included 32 trials of 17 interventions and 2,260 participants. Overall, the evidence was of moderateto-low quality. No inconsistency was detected between direct and indirect evidence. Individual forms of TF-CBT showed consistently large effects in reducing PTSD symptoms post-treatment compared with waitlist. The order of interventions by descending magnitude of effect versus waitlist was as follows: cognitive therapy for PTSD (SMD 2.94, 95%CrI 3.94 to 1.95), combined somatic/cognitive therapies, child—parent psychotherapy, combined TFCBT/ parent training, meditation, narrative exposure, exposure/prolonged exposure, play therapy, Cohen TF-CBT/ cognitive processing therapy (CPT), eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), parent training, group TF-CBT, supportive counselling and family therapy (SMD 0.37, 95%CrI 1.60 to 0.84). Results for parent training, supportive counselling and family therapy were inconclusive. Cohen TF-CBT/CPT, group TF-CBT and supportive counselling had the largest evidence base. Results regarding changes in PTSD symptoms at follow-up and remission post-treatment were uncertain due to limited evidence.
Conclusions: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, in particular individual forms, appears to be most effective in the management of PTSD in youth. EMDR is effective but to a lesser extent. Supportive counselling does not appear to be effective. Results suggest a large positive effect for emotional freedom technique, child—parent psychotherapy, combined TF-CBT/parent training, and meditation, but further research is needed to confirm these findings as they were based on very limited evidence.
Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder, ptsd, network meta-analysis, intervention
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