Bringing What Works to Youth in Corrections: A Trauma Intervention

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 2

Phase 1

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Treatments

Behavioral: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT01560728

1R34MH095210-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Youth with mental illnesses are disproportionately represented in juvenile correctional facilities and limited evidence exists about effective treatments in this setting. This study will adapt Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), a treatment found to be efficacious in community settings, to the correctional setting and study the feasibility of its implementation. Conducted within Texas youth correctional facilities, the findings will be rapidly disseminated in the state. The goal is to enhance the TF-CBT approach to meet the unique needs of incarcerated youth and the correctional system, one of the priorities outlined in the National Institute of Mental Health Strategic Plan.

Enrollment

57 patients

Sex

All

Ages

13 to 18 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Evidence of one or more significant traumatic life events
Current diagnosis of one of the following:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Dysthymia
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Social Phobia
- Panic Disorder
Trauma symptom severity scores of 25 or greater.

Exclusion criteria

Expected release date or transfer date within 5 months from study enrollment date
Current inclusion in the Sex Offender Treatment Program
Intellectual Quotient (IQ) less than 70
Current high risk of suicidality
Current symptoms of active psychosis