Cognitive behavioural therapies with a trauma focus for children and adolescents: a commentary on a systematic review

Abstract

There is a clear relationship between childhood trauma and subsequent mental illness in adulthood. Cognitive behavioural therapies with a trauma-focus (CBTs-TF) are effective in
reducing psychological distress and are recommended in clinical guidelines. However, existing clinical trials of CBTs-TF have inadequate statistical power to comment on moderators of efficacy. This commentary summarises and critically appraises a systematic review which investigated the efficacy of CBTs-TF for young people and examined individual-level and
treatment-level factors that may moderate treatment effects. The findings of the original systematic review suggest that CBTs-TF are an effective treatment for young people with post-traumatic stress symptoms. This commentary expands upon the findings in the context of clinical practice.