Cited by 300Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchChild Abuse and TraumaChild Therapy and Development

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Combined Trauma-Focused CBT and Sertraline for Childhood PTSD Symptoms

COHEN, JUDITH A., MANNARINO, ANTHONY P., PEREL, JAMES M., STARON, VIRGINIA·2007·Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Abstract

Objective To examine the potential benefits of adding a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sertraline, versus placebo, to trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for improving posttraumatic stress disorder and related psychological symptoms in children who have experienced sexual abuse.Method Twenty-four 10- to 17-year-old female children and adolescents and their primary caretakers were randomly assigned to receive TF-CBT + sertraline or TF-CBT + placebo for 12 weeks.Results Both groups experienced significant improvement in posttraumatic stress disorder and other clinical outcomes from pre- to posttreatment with no significant group x time differences between groups except in Child Global Assessment Scale ratings, which favored the TF-CBT + sertraline group.Conclusions Only minimal evidence suggests a benefit to adding sertraline to TF-CBT. A drawback of adding sertraline was determining whether TF-CBT or sertraline caused clinical improvement for children with comorbid depression. Current evidence therefore supports an initial trial of TF-CBT or other evidence-supported psychotherapy for most children with PTSD symptoms before adding medication.

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Crossref · 10.1097/chi.0b013e3180547105

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Authors
COHEN, J. A., MANNARINO, A. P., PEREL, J. M., & STARON, V.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
COHEN, JUDITH A.
Venue
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-07
Volume
46
Issue
7
Pages
811-819
ISSN
0890-8567 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2061598652
Cited by
300
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 22
FWCI
15.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (K02MH001938)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Therapy and Development
Keywords
trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, sertraline, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, sexual abuse, comorbid depression, psychotherapy, adolescents, girls
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Combined Modality Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Pilot Projects, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Sertraline

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