NCJ Number
181609
Journal
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2000 Pages: 29-46
Editor(s)
Jon R. Conte
Date Published
2000
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article reviews and summarizes existing research on treatment outcomes with traumatized children and also addresses methodological challenges in this line of research.
Abstract
The article reviews types of treatment study designs, as well as types of treatment that have been used with traumatized children. Treatment studies for children exposed to specific stressors, including disaster situations, school and community violence, severe medical conditions, war, sexual and physical abuse, and domestic violence, are summarized and critiqued. Major findings are threefold: (1) No single treatment approach will likely be applicable for all traumatized children since this population presents with a diversity of emotional and behavioral difficulties; (2) Research on abused children has accumulated the greatest amount of empirical treatment outcome data for traumatized children; and (3) Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been demonstrated in several recent empirically sound studies to be effective in treating traumatized children. Implications of the research findings for clinical practice, research, and public policy are addressed. 99 references