Innovations in Practice: Preliminary evidence for effective family engagement in treatment for child traumatic stress-trauma systems therapy approach to preventing dropout.

Abstract

This study aimed to obtain preliminary evidence for the extent to which a novel intervention embedded within a systems-oriented treatment model [trauma systems therapy (TST)] engages and retains traumatized children and their families in treatment. Twenty youth who had prominent symptoms of posttraumatic stress were randomly assigned to receive TST or care as usual (CAU). At the 3-month assessment, 90% of TST participants were still in treatment, whereas only 10% of CAU participants remained. Within-group analyses of TST participants demonstrated significant reductions in posttraumatic stress and aggression as well as a slight improvement in home safety. These preliminary findings point to the need to utilize effective engagement approaches to retain traumatized children and their families in treatment.