Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools

Problem(s) Addressed by Treatment
Depression
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (or symptoms)
 		  

Program Summary
Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) is a group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children and adolescents who have moderate levels of symptoms from PTSD, depression, and anxiety. CBITS is a manual-based CBT and uses an early intervention "skills-oriented" group approach. Ten weekly sessions include: education, relaxation training, cognitive therapy, real-life exposure, stress or trauma exposure, and social problem solving. CBITS has two overall goals: 1) reducing the symptoms of PTSD, depression and general anxiety, and 2) enabling the child to practice on his or her own after the intervention ends. CBITS also includes short parent and teacher education components.

Program Evaluation/Results
The CBITS program has been evaluated by two studies published in 2003. The first study, conducted by Kataoka et al., in 2000, used a quasi-experimental design to test the efficacy of the Mental Health for Immigrants (MHIP) program, a shortened version of the CBITS program (reduced from 10 sessions to 8, and tailored to traumatized immigrant students). Results indicated that the intervention group had greater improvement in PTSD and depressive symptoms compared with the waitlist group at the 3-month follow-up.

The second study, conducted during the 2001-2002 academic year by Stein et al., used a randomized controlled trial with 6th grade students at two middle schools. The CBITS program was delivered in a school setting with participants randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: early intervention or waitlist delayed group. Results indicated that immediately after treatment, 86% of the participants had lower PTSD symptom scores. In addition, participants in the early intervention group had significantly lower scores for symptoms of PTSD, depression, and psychosocial dysfunction than the waitlist delayed intervention group.

 
Age Range
6-10 years
11-14 years
15-18 years
  		 

Treatment Components
Group Therapy
Intersession Assignment (homework)

Treatment Participants
Child
Parent
 

  

Duration of Treatment
10 Weeks, 10 Sessions (60 minutes each)

Treatment Providers
Licensed Professionals

Staffing Requirements/Training
Groups may be conducted by social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, or school counselors with mental health intervention experience. Specialized training in CBT and with trauma survivors is recommended.

It is intended that this program be implemented by mental health professionals with appropriate education, training, credentialing, and experience treating the target population.

Availability of Treatment Program Materials
Replication kit including all treatment program materials available for purchase from Sociometrics.

  
   
 

CEDETA TREATMENT PACKAGE

The CEDETA Treatment Package for this program costs $285 and includes:

1 CEDETA User's Guide 1 Reference copy of the age-appropriate PedsQL™ instruments
1 Child treatment manual 1 Photocopy master packet of all handouts used in the treatment program
1 Sample packet of information and consent letters for parents and teachers 1 Reference copy of the available evaluation instruments used during the original study
1 Continuing Education General Knowledge Course worth 15 CE credits upon successful completion based upon John R. Weisz’s book (2004) Psychotherapy for children and adolescents: Evidence-based treatments and case-examples. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Also available separately. 1 Continuing Education Course specific to this treatment program worth 5 CE credits upon successful completion.


Sociometrics CEDETA materials are restricted to qualified purchasers in accordance with the ethical and professional standards of the American Psychological Association. CEDETA materials are therefore, only available for purchase by mail, phone or fax. For further details, see the purchaser requirements, or click below to download a qualification/order form.

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