Treating Chronically Traumatized Children: The Sleeping Dogs Method

Abstract

For children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the AACAP practice parameter 1 Cohen J.A. Bukstein O. Walter H. et al. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010; 49: 414-430https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2009.12.020 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Google Scholar recommends trauma-based psychotherapies as first-line treatment. Therapies with an evidence base in children and adolescents include trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) 2 Schneider S.T. Grilli S.F. Schneider J.R. Evidence-based treatments for traumatized children and adolescents. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013; 15: 332https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-012-0332-5 Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). 3 Karadag M. Gokcen C. Sarp A.S. EMDR therapy in children and adolescents who have post-traumatic stress disorder: a six-week follow-up study. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2020; 24: 77-82https://doi.org/10.1080/13651501.2019.1682171 Crossref PubMed Scopus (9) Google Scholar A crucial aspect of these therapies is trauma processing. Due to a multitude of factors, trauma processing is not an easy treatment for children to engage in, tolerate, and therefore complete. Other than the above therapies, there are few evidence-based treatments for children and adolescents with PTSD (both psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic). 4 Strawn J.R. Keeshin B.R. DelBello M.P. Geracioti Jr., T.D. Putnam F.W. Psychopharmacologic treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents: a review. J Clin Psychiatry. 2010; 71: 932-941https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.09r05446blu Crossref PubMed Scopus (44) Google Scholar As a result, many traumatized children do not receive adequate treatment, and continue to suffer from trauma-related symptoms throughout their lives.