Treatment for children with posttraumatic stress disorder: Current status and future directions

Although the treatment-efficacy literature for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has advanced considerably with the publication of several methodologically rigorous contributions during the past decade, the child-focused PTSD literature has yet to extend beyond case illustrations and open trials. Central to this article is a review of the treatment-outcome literature for children with PTSD. Because few treatment studies have targeted trauma-exposed children relative to their adult counterparts, results of some methodologically rigorous investigations with adults are also cited in this review. From there investigations and from the available treatment-outcome data with children, we derive suggestions for future research.