Çocuklarda Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu ve Travma Odaklı Bilişsel Davranışçı Terapinin Etkililiği: Sistematik Derleme
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and the Effectiveness of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Systematic Review

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this systematic review was to examine randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents and to assess the findings in light of the current literature. A systematic review methodology was employed, and no field research or scale administration was conducted. English-language randomized controlled trials published in the Google Scholar and PubMed databases were searched, and a total of 12 studies meeting the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the review. The selected studies involved children and adolescents who had experienced various traumatic events, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, war, natural disasters, and accidental injuries. The findings demonstrated that TF-CBT is effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents. In addition, significant improvements were observed in depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, trauma-related emotional difficulties, and parental distress. Several studies also reported that these treatment gains were maintained during follow-up assessments. The results further indicated that TF-CBT was more effective when parents were actively involved in the treatment process, produced positive outcomes across different developmental stages ranging from preschool children to adolescents, and remained effective even when delivered by trained lay counselors in lowresource settings. Studies comparing TF-CBT with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) showed that both interventions were effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, although no significant difference was found between the two treatment approaches. Overall, the findings indicate that TF-CBT is an evidence-based, reliable, and effective psychotherapeutic intervention for the treatment of PTSD in children and adolescents. Beyond reducing trauma-related symptoms, TF-CBT contributes to improved psychosocial functioning, enhances emotional well-being, and promotes the long-term maintenance of treatment gains. Based on the available evidence, TF-CBT should be considered a first-line psychological intervention for children and adolescents with PTSD and should be more widely implemented in clinical practice.

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