Evaluation of an innovative intervention for traumatized children from a low resourced country

Asking children to care for a toy animal following a severe trauma has previously shown mental health benefits. In this study 129 children aged 5–9 from two shelter-homes in Bangladesh were randomly allocated to receive a toy animal plus rehearsal of positive statements or treatment as usual and were re-assessed after three weeks. Those receiving tau then received the toy only and were reassessed after another three weeks. The largest reductions in symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression were shown by those receiving the combined intervention. This procedure provides a potential very low-cost intervention for use in developing countries.