Trial results for a study investigating a tablet-based toolkit to facilitate Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for children with PTSD were posted on 2025-06-06. The study enrolled 713 participants.
Background
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children, often linked to experiences like child abuse, requires effective therapeutic interventions. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a recognized treatment for a range of symptoms in emotional and behavioral disorders. This study aimed to explore how a tablet-based toolkit could enhance the delivery of TF-CBT, potentially improving children's engagement and provider-patient interactions.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 713 participants. The trial investigated interventions for conditions including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Technology, and Child Abuse. The intervention arm utilized a tablet-facilitated Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) toolkit designed to enhance children's engagement and provider-patient interactions. The comparator arm received Treatment as Usual.
Key results
The study reported several key measurements comparing Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT to Treatment as Usual:
- Child Involvement Ratings Scale (CIRS):
- For the Treatment as Usual group, the mean score was 1.95 (Standard Deviation 0.69) units on a scale.
- For the Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT group, the mean score was 2.01 (Standard Deviation 0.70) units on a scale.
- Provider Treatment Fidelity (TPOCS):
- For the Treatment as Usual group, the mean score was 0.50 (Standard Deviation 0.21) units on a scale.
- For the Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT group, the mean score was 0.43 (Standard Deviation 0.24) units on a scale.
- Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC):
- For the Treatment as Usual group, the mean score was 25.21 (Standard Deviation 12.32) score on a scale.
- For the Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT group, the mean score was 23.61 (Standard Deviation 11.86) score on a scale.
- Another measurement for the Treatment as Usual group reported a mean score of 20.88 (Standard Deviation 11.44) score on a scale.
- For the Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT group, this measurement was 20.66 (Standard Deviation 11.92) score on a scale.
- A further measurement for the Treatment as Usual group showed a mean score of 19.22 (Standard Deviation 9.88) score on a scale.
- For the Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT group, this measurement was 18.91 (Standard Deviation 10.21) score on a scale.
- The final reported measurement for the Treatment as Usual group was a mean score of 18.35 (Standard Deviation 9.35) score on a scale.
- For the Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT group, this measurement was 19.33 (Standard Deviation 10.73) score on a scale.
What this means
The posted results provide mean scores for child involvement, provider fidelity, and depression symptoms in children with PTSD receiving either tablet-facilitated TF-CBT or Treatment as Usual. While the Tablet-Facilitated TF-CBT group showed a slightly higher mean score on the Child Involvement Ratings Scale and generally slightly lower mean scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children compared to Treatment as Usual, the Provider Treatment Fidelity score was slightly lower. Without statistical analyses, the practical implications of these observed differences cannot be definitively determined regarding the superiority or non-inferiority of the tablet-facilitated approach.
Source
The information for these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03305458, titled 'Improving Quality of Care in Child Mental Health Service Settings', were posted on 2025-06-06 on clinicaltrials.gov.