Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions in Children and Adolescents Affected by Armed Conflict- A Systematic Review

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  • November 21, 2019
Creator
  • Mitchell, Kathryn
    • Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health
Abstract
  • Introduction: There are more than 1 billion children under the age of 18 living in countries affected by armed conflict. In children and adolescents, exposure to armed conflict has been associated with negative consequences on mental health and psychological wellbeing. Despite the apparent international consensus on programmatic strategies for psychosocial support programs, there is still a significant amount of disagreement in regards to which interventions are most effective. This review compared outcomes of various cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) studies in reducing the severity of PTSD symptoms in youth affected by conflict or war. Methods: The review complemented an earlier review of randomized control trials by restricting the search to non-randomized trails. An extensive effort to identify grey literature sources was undertaken, utilizing database searches and bibliography mining. Results: Out of 98 studies identified, seven were included in this review. CBT interventions reduced psychiatric symptoms in six of the seven (86%) studies. The seventh study found no change in PTSD or depression scores in the intervention group, but did note a non-significant decline in intrusion scores. Conclusion: This systematic review supports the findings of an earlier review of randomized control trials, with both demonstrating that CBT may successfully help children and adolescents affected by armed conflict in reducing PTSD symptoms. Yet there is still a significant amount of heterogeneity among interventions and measurement tools, making it challenging to truly compare the effectiveness of different CBT intervention. Therefore, future research should focus on establishing a consensus on measureable outcomes and the necessary key components for a successful program.
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  • In Copyright
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  • Paper type: Review
Advisor
  • Peterson, Herbert
Degree
  • Master of Public Health
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduation year
  • 2015
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  • 0a9d0e76-0a39-4534-8108-618a434586cf

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