Treatment for Children With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Current Status and Future Directions

Although the treatment‐efficacy literature for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has advanced considerably with the publication of several methodologically rigorous contributions during the past decade, the child‐focused PTSD literature has yet to extend beyond case illustrations and open trials. Central to this article is a review of the treatment‐outcome literature for children with PTSD. Because few treatment studies have targeted trauma‐exposed children relative to their adult counterparts, results of some methodologically rigorous investigations with adults are also cited in this review. From these investigations and from the available treatment‐outcome data with children, we derive suggestions for future research.