Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children

Spitalnick, Josh. Difede, JoAnn. Rizzo, Albert. O. Rothbaum, Barbara. “Emerging treatments for PTSD” Clinical Psychology Review, Volume 29, Issue 8, December 2009, Pages 715-726, ISSN 0272-7358, Web. 21 April 2016

PTSD is one mental health issue that can result from a great deal of distress that a person may experience after a devastating event involving any type of physical trauma or threat of physical harm (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). A child who develops PTSD either “directly experienced the traumatic event(s), witnessed, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others, learned that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or friend or experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s)” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Traumatic events are normally unavoidable and uncontrollable. It may overwhelm a child and affect his or her sense of control and safety. Single, brief, and unanticipated events are classified as

Also, like adults, they can recover just as easily with therapy sessions and techniques. This is just a preview of what kind of research is being done in order to combat this issue with adolescents that have PTSD. The next step into the paper is to show if children are more resilient than adults or how does PTSD affect the development of children’s mental and physical

The focus for this research paper is learning more of the fundamentals of PTSD Checklist for DSM 5, and how it applies with individuals who relive a traumatic experience, leading for better treatment. This assessment is available for any age, as the traumatic experience can be from any sort of violent event such sexual assault, domestic abuse, accidents and etc. (Meiser- Stedman, et al., 2009). PTSD Checklist focus on both children and the adult as they are both prone to relive their experience through flashbacks, nightmares and their behavior is more challenging compare to other peers.

It is a sad statistic that a great number of children suffer traumatic events such as domestic violence; abuse; rape; violent crime; natural disasters, war, or the death of loved ones under traumatic situations. Countless experience several types of trauma. Although some children exhibit amazing strength in the aftermath of these incidents, many have pain or develop psychological issues that can be long lasting, and very serious... Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is parts -based

As children go through life, they will come upon stressful situations and experiences. Many children will work through the challenges that life brings, build resilience and move forward, however, some children may experience more extreme traumatic events that can result in life difficulties due to serious trauma symptoms that are much harder to manage. Trauma-Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence based treatment model designed to help youth who have experienced a significantly traumatic life event. TF-CBT uses skills and strength based therapy to address symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety (Cohen et al, 2006). This research is an examination of trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy as a model of practice including the areas of history and development of the model, its relationship with other models of practice, considerations of appropriate populations, methods and components for treatment, effectiveness of the intervention and relevance for social work practice.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) was stablished by Congress in 2000 and brings a comprehensive focus to childhood trauma. This network raises the average standard of care and improves access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States. The NCTSN defines trauma‑focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF‑CBT) as an evidence‑based treatment approach that is shown to help children, adolescents, and their caregivers overcome trauma‑related difficulties. It is designed to reduce negative emotional and behavioral responses following a traumatic event. The treatment addresses distorted beliefs related to the abuse and provides a supportive environment so the individual can talk about their traumatic experience. TF‑CBT also helps parents cope with their own emotional issues and develop skills to support their children.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders describes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an acute stress disorder (2013). Individuals that experience this disorder are exposed to or have had an experience of near death or bodily harm (American Psychiatric Association. 2013). Evidence based therapy that has shown positive outcomes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is based on changing behavior. The use of client-centered therapy can also be beneficial with this type of client if applied in addition to CBT. Joseph stated that a client-centered approach to PTSD could result in Post-traumatic growth (2004). Post-traumatic growth does not try to bring the client back to the original state before the trauma but bring the client beyond their previous level of functioning (Joseph, 2004). When a person experiences a trauma, they can have a myriad of emotions, it is the therapist responsibility to help the client make better sense of the issue and continue functioning in a normal manner. Not all traumas are alike and not all clients can be treated equally. The most significant aspect of treatment in helping this type of client is the approach the therapist takes which should include the temperament of the client and the goals the client seeks. Included here is an examination of a fictitious client that has experienced a trauma and the therapist care plan. The therapist

Exposure and cognitive restructuring are thought to be the most effective components. Exposure-based treatments involve having survivors repeatedly re-experience their traumatic event. There is strong evidence for exposure therapy, one of which being Prolonged Exposure (PE). PE includes both imaginal exposure and in vivo exposure to safe situations that have been avoided because they remind the person of the traumatic event. Cognitive Processing Therapy has a primary focus on challenging and modifying maladaptive beliefs related to the trauma, but also includes a written exposure component. Veterans with chronic military-related PTSD who received CPT showed better improvements in PTSD. EMDR is recommended in most practice guidelines. Patients receiving EMDR engage in imaginal exposure to a trauma while simultaneously performing saccadic eye movements. Overall, these therapy treatments are considered first-line treatments for PTSD and have strong evidence bases and effective

In this paper the therapies related to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will be studied in order to determine the applicability thereof for the treatment (and prevention) of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD will be summarised as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders edition 4 with revisions (DSM-IV-TR). The therapy models, their theory and techniques will be discussed. The therapies this paper has in scope are, CBT, Exposure therapy and it’s different related techniques, Stress Inoculation Training (SIT), and Eye Movement Desensitisation

Childhood and adolescence is a crucial time for humans- a time full of physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Upon observing the significant impact that trauma induced stress can have on adults following time in combat or an injury, when adults have fully matured in all areas, it raises the question of what influence post-traumatic stressors can have on development in children. This issue was so significant that in the DSM-5, the psychologists introduced a new, and separate, section of criteria for PTSD that specifically relates to the preschool subtype, or those individuals six years and younger. The first age specific sub-type for this disorder is important due to the rising number of studies and cases of PTSD in children.

Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder is possible. The current treatment of PTSD encompasses several types of psychotherapy combined with a medication regimen. Cognitive therapy is one type of therapy used to combat PTSD. The goal of cognitive therapy is to allow the patient to slowly experience feelings, thoughts, and events associated with the trauma in a controlled setting. This allows the PTSD sufferer, to categorize the traumatic feelings associated with the event and assign a more positive meaning to them. Thus providing a coping mechanism. Another school of thought places the therapeutic focus on gradually exposing the PTSD sufferer to elements of the trauma. The goal is to desensitize the patient to the traumatic event. This allows the patient to resume a normal life. One other form of therapy used in treatment of PTSD is EMDR. EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a form of exposure therapy that places the emphasis on guided eye movements. The theory is that the movements help retrain how the brain reacts to memories of the traumatic event. Success has

This therapy involves a combination of non-trauma focused therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and exposure therapy. The non-trauma portion of this therapy does not address the underlying traumatic event that caused the PTSD, but teaches the use of relaxation techniques and involves non-directive counseling. The EMDR therapy involves the military personnel identifying a traumatic memory and discussing a negative or positive thought related to that memory. The therapist then would move an object, back and forth, in front of the patient’s eyes, while focusing on the negative memory. The procedure would continue until the positive thoughts related to that memory, increased and the negative decreased (Burke et al., 2009). The exposure therapy takes place in a controlled environment and involves the gradual exposure to a replica of the stimuli, which triggered a negative reaction. Some of the creative exposure techniques being utilized involve computer technology and have proven to be both practical and effective (Burke et al.,

Millions of people suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and struggle to find an effective treatment option. Many people have the misconception that only our veterans have this condition but in actuality over 8% of the Unites States population have this mental illness. Researchers have been trying to study and determine what the best treatment options are. Patients can get confused and frustrated in trying to find a treatment that will fit their needs and gives them the best opportunity and chance of recovery. Research has indicated that drug therapy has limited results when used without therapy and may only treat symptoms (Wright 2013). Although many

With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come,--the end of suffering and sorrow and sin! How soon, in place of a possession here, with its blight of sin and pain, our children might receive their inheritance where "the righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever"; where "the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick," and "the voice of weeping shall be no more heard."--"Counsels to Teachers, Parents, and Students," p. 555 .