Prolonged exposure versus dynamic therapy for adolescent PTSD: a pilot randomized controlled trial

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010 Oct;49(10):1034-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2010.07.014. Epub 2010 Sep 6.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the efficacy and maintenance of developmentally adapted prolonged exposure therapy for adolescents (PE-A) compared with active control time-limited dynamic therapy (TLDP-A) for decreasing posttraumatic and depressive symptoms in adolescent victims of single-event traumas.

Method: Thirty-eight adolescents (12 to 18 years old) were randomly assigned to receive PE-A or TLDP-A.

Results: Both treatments resulted in decreased posttraumatic stress disorder and depression and increased functioning. PE-A exhibited a greater decrease of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptom severity and a greater increase in global functioning than did TDLP-A. After treatment, 68.4% of adolescents beginning treatment with PE-A and 36.8% of those beginning treatment with TLDP-A no longer met diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. Treatment gains were maintained at 6- and 17-month follow-ups.

Conclusions: Brief individual therapy is effective in decreasing posttraumatic distress and behavioral trauma-focused components enhance efficacy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY INFORMATION: Prolonged Exposure Therapy Versus Active Psychotherapy in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adolescents, URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov, unique identifier: NCT00183690.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Arousal
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Implosive Therapy*
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Pilot Projects
  • Psychoanalytic Therapy*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00183690