Comparing Behavioral Therapies for Treating Adolescents With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Related to Sexual Abuse

University of Pennsylvania

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: PTSD

Treatments: Behavioral: Prolonged Exposure for Adolescents; Behavioral: Client Centered Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02148484

804439

Details and patient eligibility

About

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common disorder among childhood sexual abuse survivors and is associated with substantial psychosocial and medical problems, but evidence-based treatment for PTSD in adolescents is lacking. This study aims to examine the efficacy and effectiveness of prolonged exposure therapy for adolescents with client-centered therapy.

Enrollment: 90 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 13 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria: female gender, age 13-18, and a primary DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of chronic or subthreshold PTSD related to sexual assault

Exclusion Criteria: current suicidal ideation with intent, uncontrolled bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, other thought disorders, or conduct disorder, the presence of a pervasive developmental disorder, initiation of treatment with psychotropic medication within the previous 12 weeks, and current inpatient psychiatric treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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90 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

Prolonged exposure for adolescents

Treatment:

Behavioral: Prolonged Exposure for Adolescents

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

Client centered therapy

Treatment:

Behavioral: Client Centered Therapy