Childhood Trauma and Effective Empirically Based Interventions

Wendy Clements,S Lavi Wilson,Tyrone David,Larry D Williams

doi:10.22158/jpbr.v1n1p45

Abstract

Trauma affects many children in various ways globally. According to SAMHSA (2017), the “occurrence of child trauma is very prevalent, and 75% of children reported experiencing at least one traumatic event by age 16”. Traumatic events consist of “psychological, physical, or sexual abuse; community or school violence; witnessing or experiencing domestic violence; national disasters or terrorism; commercial sexual exploitation; sudden or violent loss of a loved one; refugee or war experiences; military family-related stressors; physical or sexual assault; neglect; and serious accidents or life-threatening illness” (SAMHSA, 2017). This literature review evaluates three different attachment-based, trauma-informed interventions for young children 0-7 years of age which are: Attachment and Bio-Behavioral Catchup (ABC), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Throughout this review, childhood trauma will be defined, and the current occurrence rates will be discussed. Furthermore, the descriptions of the above therapies, clinical trials, and research findings will be examined, and a discussion of the literature review findings will follow.

Highlights

According to Larkin and Record (2007), early childhood trauma is related to traumatic experiences endured by children during the age of 0-6 (2007)
Another similar study conducted by Dozier and her colleagues found that children receiving the ABC intervention had lower post-intervention cortisol levels when compared to the children receiving Developmental Education for Families (DEF) (Dozier et al, 2006)
One of the limitations of these two studies includes the small sample size. 3.2 Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) CPP is a therapeutic intervention designed for children 0-5 years old that is based on attachment, psychodynamic, and trauma theories, and combines cognitive-behavioral and social learning strategies (Lieberman & Van Horne, 2009; Fusco & Cahalane, 2014; Lieberman et al, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

According to Larkin and Record (2007), early childhood trauma is related to traumatic experiences endured by children during the age of 0-6 (2007). 26% of all children in the continental United States will endure some type of trauma during their lifetime The treatments for children who are enduring or have endured childhood trauma that will be discussed in detail throughout this review are Attachment and Bio-behavioral Catch-Up (ABC), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). The research methods used will be discussed in addition to the methodology and summary of the literature. The review will focus on three particular therapeutic treatments (ABC, CPP, and PCIT) that are utilized with young children ages 0-7 years old who are currently experiencing trauma or who have experienced trauma

Methods

Results

Conclusion