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Cited by 192Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchChild Therapy and DevelopmentChild Abuse and Trauma

Psychosocial Interventions for Children and Adolescents after Man-Made and Natural Disasters: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

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Brown, R. C., Witt, A., Fegert, J. M., Keller, F., Rassenhofer, M., Plener, P. L.·2017·Psychological Medicine
DOI 10.1017/s0033291717000496
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Abstract

Children and adolescents are a vulnerable group to develop post-traumatic stress symptoms after natural or man-made disasters. In the light of increasing numbers of refugees under the age of 18 years worldwide, there is a significant need for effective treatments. This meta-analytic review investigates specific psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents after man-made and natural disasters. In a systematic literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO, as well as hand-searching existing reviews and contacting professional associations, 36 studies were identified. Random- and mixed-effects models were applied to test for average effect sizes and moderating variables. Overall, treatments showed high effect sizes in pre-post comparisons (Hedges' g = 1.34) and medium effect sizes as compared with control conditions (Hedges' g = 0.43). Treatments investigated by at least two studies were cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), narrative exposure therapy for children (KIDNET) and classroom-based interventions, which showed similar effect sizes. However, studies were very heterogenic with regard to their outcomes. Effects were moderated by type of profession (higher level of training leading to higher effect sizes). A number of effective psychosocial treatments for child and adolescent survivors of disasters exist. CBT, EMDR, KIDNET and classroom-based interventions can be equally recommended. Although disasters require immediate reactions and improvisation, future studies with larger sample sizes and rigorous methodology are needed.

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  • Several studies, reviews, and meta-analyses show MHPSS programmes still largely prioritise individual interventions based on clinical approaches to suffering.

    “On the other hand, several studies, reviews, and meta-analyses have shown that MHPSS programmes still largely prioritise individual interventions based on clinical approaches to suffering (e.g., Kerbage and Marranconi 2017;Brown et al. 2017;Chiumento et al. 2017;Tol et al. 2011).”

    From Throwing therapy at the problem mental health and humanitarian intervention in Palabek refugee settlement, northern Uganda (2023) · cites this paper as Brown et al. 2017

    The paper’s summary of included interventions (shown in our copy under Limitations and strengths; page not identified) reports the opposite of an emphasis on individual delivery: 28 were group interventions and eight were individual. The review concerns interventions for children and adolescents after disasters, so it does not establish priorities across MHPSS programmes generally. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Existing narrative or systematic reviews of brief interventions have been limited to specific disaster subtypes or particular age groups.

    “A couple of narrative or systematic reviews summarized brief interventions on the specific subtypes of disasters, e.g., mental health impacts in response to climate change [13] or the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 [14], or were narrowed to particular age groups, e.g., children and adolescents [15].”

    From Promoting Recovery from Disasters, Pandemics, and Trauma: A Systematic Review of Brief Psychological Interventions to Reduce Distress in Adults, Children, and Adolescents (2023) · cites this paper as [15]

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Authors
Brown, R. C., Witt, A., Fegert, J. M., Keller, F., Rassenhofer, M., & Plener, P. L.
Affiliations
Universität Ulm (DE)
Corresponding author
Brown, R. C.
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Medicine
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2017-04-11
Volume
47
Issue
11
Pages
1893-1905
ISSN
  • 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8978
DOI
10.1017/s0033291717000496
OpenAlex
W2606733587
Cited by
192
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 6
FWCI
2.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte
  • European Commission
  • Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • Volkswagen Foundation
  • Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
  • Bundesministerium für Gesundheit
  • Servier
  • H. Lundbeck A/S
  • Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • Cilag
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Therapy and Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
psychosocial interventions, children and adolescents, disaster survivors, post-traumatic stress disorder, natural disasters, man-made disasters, refugees, cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, narrative exposure therapy, classroom intervention, treatment effectiveness
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Disasters, Humans, Psychotherapy, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Survivors

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