Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as an early intervention for PTSD in youth: preliminary efficacy and mechanisms of a

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Following horrific or life threatening events (e.g. serious accidents, violence, or natural disasters) children and adolescents can, like adults, develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a serious anxiety disorder that can cause major disruption to an individual's functioning, and if left untreated can persist for years or even decades. Recent research suggests that severe early PTSD symptoms put youth at high risk of developing chronic PTSD. Furthermore, it has been shown that that the development of PTSD in this age group is related to certain psychological processes, i.e. their memories of the trauma, and particular ways of thinking about and coping with the trauma. This understanding has led to the development of a psychological treatment for PTSD in youth. This treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), has been shown to successfully treat chronic PTSD in children and adolescents. The proposed research seeks to examine whether CBT might be an effective treatment for PTSD in the first few months following a trauma, and investigate in greater detail which psychological and biological processes lead to the development of early PTSD in young people. This research will inform how PTSD in young people can be best treated at an early stage.