NCJ Number
204309
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2001 Pages: 123-135
Editor(s)
Richard D. Krugman,
John M. Leventhal
Date Published
January 2001
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study surveyed practices in treating childhood post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among child psychiatrists and non-M.D. therapists with self-identified interest in treating traumatized children.
Abstract
Traumatic events such as child abuse and neglect are experienced by a substantial number of children and adolescents. The clinical literature regarding the treatment of traumatized children describes a wide variety of interventions, including crisis intervention, psychoanalytic techniques, creative arts, play therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and pharmacotherapy. Given the diversity of treatment, however, there is relatively little empirical treatment outcome data. The researchers conducted a survey of child and adolescent psychiatrists and nonphysician therapists who identified themselves as having an interest and/or expertise in the area of traumatized children to address two questions: how were child psychiatrists and other therapists currently treating children with PTSD symptoms; and did these two groups treat such children with similar therapeutic approaches. A survey was mailed to 207 child and adolescent psychiatrists and 460 nonphysician therapists. A total of 240 completed surveys were returned, of which 42.9 percent were medical and 34.2 percent were nonmedical. Of the completed surveys, 77 medical responders and 82 nonmedical responders indicated that they treated children with PTSD using a wide variety of modalities. Most preferred modalities among medical responders were pharmacotherapy, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, while most preferred modalities among nonmedical responders were cognitive-behavioral, family, and nondirective play therapy. Ninety-five percent of medical respondents used pharmacotherapy for treating PTSD. The most preferred medications were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and alpha-adrenergic agonists. Several significant differences between medical and nonmedical practices were identified. Based on the study findings, the researchers conclude that there is little clinical consensus regarding the effectiveness of the many modalities used to treat traumatized children with PTSD symptoms. More empirical research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of newer treatments such as pharmacotherapy and EMDR. Study limitations are discussed. Figures, table, and references