A Pilot and Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial of Dyadic Exposure Therapy and Dyadic Client-Centered Therapy for Posttraumatic Preschool Children and Their Caregivers

Abstract

Treatment protocols for preschoolers with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially following single trauma and medical trauma exposure, are sparse. The co-occurring severity of caregivers’ and children’s posttraumatic symptoms is a robust finding. Consequently, treatment that focuses both on children’s and caregivers’ PTSD symptoms directly is important. The study aims were to evaluate the feasibility of dyadic exposure therapy (DET) and supportive dyadic client-centered therapy (DCCT) and to perform a preliminary analysis of the degree of change in DET and DCCT. Twelve preschoolers (M = 49.25 months, SD = 13.84) with PTSD, their 12 mothers and 9 of their fathers, were randomly assigned to 15 sessions of DET (n = 6) or DCCT (n = 6). All participants completed their respective interventions. Only DET yielded significant improvements on mother-rated measures of child and maternal PTSD symptoms and appraisals. Therapy focused on child-caregiver PTSD symptoms directly may ameliorate the bidirectional effects of symptomatic responses within the traumatized dyad.