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Treatments for Early Childhood Trauma: Decision Considerations for Clinicians

  • Evidence based intervention
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Abstract

The period from birth to age six represents a time of significant risk for exposure to trauma. Following trauma exposure, children may experience significant negative and lasting psychological, cognitive, and physical effects. Over the last two decades, the demand for and availability of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for children under the age of six who have experienced trauma has dramatically increased. Three of the most well-supported and widely disseminated EBTs for early childhood trauma are Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and Child-Parent Psychotherapy. Increasingly, clinicians are receiving training in more than one EBT. This paper provides an overview of each intervention; presents clinicians with various child, caregiver, and environmental factors to consider when deciding amongst these three EBTs; and applies these considerations to three composite cases.

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Child Study Center, 1210 Wolfe Street, Slot 654, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA

    Karin L. Vanderzee, Joy R. Pemberton & Sufna G. John

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Slot 554, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA

    Benjamin A. Sigel

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  1. Karin L. Vanderzee
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  2. Benjamin A. Sigel
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Vanderzee, K.L., Sigel, B.A., Pemberton, J.R. et al. Treatments for Early Childhood Trauma: Decision Considerations for Clinicians. Journ Child Adol Trauma 12, 515–528 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-018-0244-6

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