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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

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Handbook of Mental Health in African American Youth

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Child and Family Studies ((SSCFS))

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Abstract

The current chapter reviews relevant literature concerning the treatment of pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the impact of sociocultural factors on symptomatology. In terms of treatment, evidence suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic, narrative, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and supportive therapies are all effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents. Although these psychosocial treatments are viewed as first line forms of treatment, antiadrenergics, second generation antipsychotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and several mood stabilizers have been identified as effective pharmacological treatments for PTSD, especially when used in conjunction with psychosocial treatment. Extant literature has identified the most effective treatment options for pediatric PTSD, but scant research has been conducted on these interventions utilizing samples comprised of African American children and adolescents. Although there is a lack of research within this population, a few studies have found that CBT effectively reduces PTSD symptoms in African American youth, however they are more likely to drop out of treatment. The current chapter also discusses sociocultural factors that may influence treatment (i.e., disproportionate community violence exposure, race-based trauma), and suggested adaptations to account for these factors in treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Mental Health Disparities, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Broderick A. Sawyer, Monnica T. Williams, Ryan C. T. DeLapp & Darlene M. Davis

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  1. Broderick A. Sawyer
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  2. Monnica T. Williams
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  3. Ryan C. T. DeLapp
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  4. Darlene M. Davis
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Correspondence to Broderick A. Sawyer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Georgetown University Medical Cente, Department of Psychiatry, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Alfiee M. Breland-Noble

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School, RICHMOND, Virginia, USA

    Cheryl S. Al-Mateen

  3. Medical College of Georgia, Augusta Univ, Dept of Psychiatry & Health Behavior, Augusta, GA, Georgia, USA

    Nirbhay N. Singh

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Sawyer, B.A., Williams, M.T., DeLapp, R.C.T., Davis, D.M. (2016). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In: Breland-Noble, A., Al-Mateen, C., Singh, N. (eds) Handbook of Mental Health in African American Youth. Springer Series on Child and Family Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25501-9_14

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