Overview
The primary objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a Brief Intensive Trauma Treatment (BITT) for adolescents with (s)PTSD.
Description
This study is a multi-center, single-blinded RCT. Adolescents (12-18 years old) with (s)PTSD will be randomly allocated by an independent researcher to the BITT (n=50) versus a waitlist control group (WLCG; n=50), stratified by center. Measurements are done at comparable time intervals for both groups: at pre-treatment (T0), directly after BITT or WLCG (T1) and at 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 9 (T4) months follow-up. The WLCG receives BITT after the 3 months follow-up.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the
following criteria:
- 12-18 years of age;
- with a history of psychological trauma (conform the Life Events Checklist of the
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents DSM-5 (CAPS-CA DSM-5)
(Nader, 2004; van Meijel et al., 2019);
- at least subthreshold PTSD criteria, conform the CAPS-CA DSM-5, i.e.;
- fully meeting criterion A, F and G and at least one symptom of criteria B, C, D
and E;
- or fully meeting criterion A, F, G and at least the B, C, D or E symptom
clusters;
- and written informed consent must be provided by the adolescent and, for adolescents
aged 12-15 years, all legal guardians.
Exclusion Criteria:
A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from
participation in this study in case of:
- inability to speak and write Dutch;
- estimated or determined mental retardation (IQ <70);
- suffering from ongoing trauma by a parent who is part of the adolescent's current
primary-care system.