Reducing Psychological Harm from Traumatic Events Among Children and Adolescents: Individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Task Force Finding*

Trauma-focused, individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was developed to alleviate symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms, as well as to address fundamental distortions of perception regarding self-blame, safety, and the trustworthiness of others.

On the basis of strong evidence of effectiveness, the Task Force recommends the use of individual CBT to reduce psychological harm in symptomatic children and adolescents exposed to trauma. In the systematic review on which this conclusion is based, individual CBT was offered to traumatized children and adolescents of varying ages, geographic locations, and subject to diverse traumatic exposures; the Task Force was unable to assess the relative effectiveness of individual CBT across these dimensions.

*From the following publication:

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations to reduce psychological harm from traumatic events among children and adolescents. [PDF - 58KB] Am J Prev Med 2008;35(3):314-6.

Review completed: June 2006