The data behind the dissemination: A systematic review of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for use with children and youth

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is one of the most widely disseminated mental health interventions for children and youth. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the evidence of TF-CBT's ability to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression and behavior problems in children and youth who have survived trauma. A search was conducted to locate studies that evaluated TF-CBT or interventions highly similar to TF-CBT. Ten studies (twelve articles) were selected for inclusion in three sets of meta-analyses. Findings were consistent amongst meta-analyses; pooled estimates were similar whether we were analyzing the effects of interventions that were highly similar to TF-CBT, or if we were exclusively analyzing the effects of the branded intervention. Results show that there is a significant difference between the TFCBT condition and comparison conditions in its ability to reduce symptoms of PTSD (g = .671), depression (g = .378) and behavior problems (g = .247) immediately after treatment completion. This difference held for PTSD at twelve months after treatment completion (.389) but did not hold for depression or behavior problems. There was not a significant difference between the TF-CBT condition and alternative active control conditions immediately after treatment completion. Therefore, TF-CBT is an effective intervention for the treatment of PTSD in youth.

► A search for TF-CBT trials located 1621 references; 12 were included.
► Findings were consistent across 3 sets of meta analyses.
► Pooled estimates show a medium effect size for symptoms of PTSD at immediate post.
► Effects for depression and behavior problems become insignificant after 12 months.
► Differences between TF-CBT and active control conditions were not significant.