Pilot Study of Modified Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Traumatic Grief (CBT-CTG)

• NCJ Number: 216596
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 45 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2006 Pages: 1465-1473
• Author(s): Judith A. Cohen M.D.; Anthony P. Mannarino Ph.D.; Virginia R. Staron M.A.
• Date Published: December 2006
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): SM 54319
• Sponsoring Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This pilot study evaluated outcomes for a modified 12-session protocol of cognitive-behavioral therapy for childhood traumatic grief (CBT-CTG), which is an emerging condition characterized by a combination of posttraumatic stress and unresolved grief symptoms.

Abstract

The findings indicate that the shortened CBT-CTG protocol, which is similar to what many community child bereavement programs offer, may be acceptable and effective for children. The children who participated in CBT-CTG reported significant improvement in adverse grieving, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, and anxiety; and their parents reported significant improvement in their children's PTSD, as well as internalizing and total behavioral problems. Although PTSD significantly improved only during the trauma-focused module of treatment, traumatic grief improved significantly during both trauma-focused and grief-focused modules of treatment. Child satisfaction and parent satisfaction with the treatment protocol were strong. The authors advise that the CBT-CTG model requires further evaluation in randomized, controlled treatment trials. Thirty-nine children (ages 6 to 17 years old) with childhood traumatic grief and their parents received the CBT-CTG protocol between March 2004 and October 2005. The 12 sessions focused on identifying and managing feelings; relaxation/self-soothing skills; the management of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in coping with daily events; an analysis of coping skills; narratives of the trauma-related events; joint parent-child sessions; discussion of feelings about the deceased; creating positive memories of the deceased; recommitting to current relationships; and closure issues. CTG and PTSD symptoms were assessed at pretreatment, after the trauma-focused module, and after the grief-focused module (at posttreatment). Child depression, anxiety, and behavioral symptoms, as well as parental depression and PTSD symptoms, were assessed before and after treatment. 3 tables, 2 figures, and 26 references