Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Intervention for PTSD - Literature review Example

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Intervention for PTSD Traumatic events, parental development and substance abuse can increase the rate of PTSD among children and young adults. An intervention method for PTSD can be used to reinstate the health and psychological state of children and young adults. Cognitive behavior therapy is geared towards changing the attitude and behaviors that interfere in the way children think. Family strengthening approach and parental input can be used in the therapy. A depression course can be applied in the therapy to help adults and children who develop PTSD as a result of depression. Establishing a safe environment for healing and instilling the right attitudes can help in behavioral change for children and adolescents with low levels of PTSD. Addressing PTSD from the perspective of cognitive behavior is vital and outlining methods for the program can reinforce the recovery journey for PTSD patients. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Intervention for PTSD Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy One of the leading causes of PTSD among children is continued exposure to traumatic events (Shemesh, 2005). A pediatric medical care setting can help to gather reliable information about how children react to different emotional situations. A study carried out in a pediatric outpatient setting to compare the reaction levels of parents, and their children found out that practitioners are torn between using the reports given by parents about the emotional reactions of their children. Posttraumatic disorder requires experts to unearth the symptoms that often go unnoticed by inexperienced parents. The discrepancies between what children behave and how their parents report the assessment can be a leading cause of the proliferation of PTSD. Pediatric medical care settings can provide a platform for evaluating the validity of cognitive behavior as an intervention for PTSD. The results of the PTSD study carried out at Mount Sinai Medical Center showed varying responses from adolescents and children to traumatic disorder (Shemesh, 2005). A parent can interfere with the report submitted. Therefore, parents can be used as instruments for carrying out cognitive behavior therapy for PTSD but with the surveillance of medical practitioners. The interpretation of children and clinicians varies considerably. Parents should be used to collect report to offer insights that can be used to kick off the therapy. The move is meant to prevent parents becoming influenced by the traumatic disorder affecting their children. Parental observations for their children count as an optional source of data for the final report to be prepared by the clinician. Parental observations should not be used irrespective of the child’s age. Applicable Methods Cognitive behavioral therapy could utilize a strengthening approach method. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families is charged with conducting extensive research and filing reports on how parents and children cope with PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder emanates from abuse and neglect that faces children at the family. The fear of loss takes a toll on children but incorporating five protective factors, children can regain their energy to develop and live in healthy environments (Cssp.org, 2015). Five protective factors entails parent pliability, knowledge of parenting and child development, social and emotional aptitude of children, social connections and solid support in times of need. Parental resilience is critical in cognitive behavior therapy because it helps cope with stress levels among parents. Parents are trained to regain their ability to confront challenges and instilling right attitude and relationships. According to Cssp.org, (2015) therapy on PTSD that is hardly based on the child development and parenting knowledge is doomed. Harsh punishments are replaced with understanding and parental advice. Children are taught how to integrate personal appreciation and communication about past abuse during cognitive behavioral therapy. Additionally social connections replace past periods of isolation while support during a time of need comes in as a way of minimizing stress levels. Crises such as substance abuse, lack of resources and abuse are addressed during cognitive behavioral therapy because the violence of behavior translates into personal and community abuse. The psychosocial characteristics of young children and adolescents occur before the depression or any other stress level that leads to PTSD (Lewinsohn, Rohde & Seeley, 1998). Children and young adults in school develop stress and depression due to social behaviors such as smoking and dropping grades which they can handle individually. However, they are not strong enough to change their way of thinking, and that could result in periods of depression and psychotic behaviors. PTSD predisposes young adults into physical illness and relationships breakups. Patients can develop suicidal thoughts to halt anxiety and pain. Using cognitive behavioral therapy can prove costly if assessment and care are not done properly on the victims. Skills for Children and Adolescents Application of vital skills in adolescents and young children can change the way PTSD is addressed. According to Donnelly & Amaya-Jackson (2002), a depression course is one of the commonly used methods, and it capitalizes on the way patients respond to therapy. The depression course utilizes mood monitoring, social skills, pleasant activities, relaxation and constructive thinking. Communication, negotiation and problem-solving, and maintenance gain can be incorporated into the depression recovery course to reinstate health and thinking. PTSD treatments reveal that patients with stress and depression therapy capitalize on specific difficulties during the sessions. Adolescents cope with relationships problems while adults seek solutions related to low self-esteem and work problems. An intervention program that uses cognitive behavior should take into consideration the level of care among patients. The severity of PTSD determines the number of sessions and treatments that the therapy will include ensuring optimal healing for patients. PTSD can result into serious physical harm for a patient who gets constant threats (Donnelly & Amaya-Jackson, 2002). The fear, horror, and helplessness translate into war, accidents, and assaults. Traumatic events for individuals who suffer from PTSD seek treatment and therapy to restore their normal health. Cognitive behavioral therapy is founded in the symptoms for PTSD such as reliving, avoidance, increased arousal and numbing. Therapy is intense for children because children show the gradual development that may delay the overall behavior. The combination of PTSD symptoms acts as treatment goals and the manner in which the establishment of the therapy course should take course. The efficacy of the cognitive behavior intervention depends on how well people know each other and how comfortable they feel about the interviewing sessions. The Environment Establishing a safe and calm environment comes to help creating rapport and instilling right attitudes towards the environmental factors that led to PTSD (Gau et al., 2007). The developmental milestone for both children and parents with PTSD should be considered in the recovery program in the therapy. The milestone used should be commensurate with the age of PTSD patient. The cognitive ability of children and parents can promote the therapy process. Additionally, the process, content and purpose, and patient participation can increase the ability to heal. Traumatized children require more help than parents because they are more disposed to PTSD risks than adults. A non-directive therapy can be used to eliminate trauma levels among PTSD patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy for children with PTSD can utilize directive play therapy. Directive play therapy can be used by parents and caregivers to inhibit emotional and behavioral disturbances. PTSD also emanates from substance abuse among adults (Gau et al., 2007). Hardly do school, or young children use substance abuse and develop related disorders. The problem is more prevalent among adults. The hyperactivity disorder among adults can increase the rate of mortality at family level if left untreated. An early intervention for the disruptive behavior can reduce the effects of the psychosocial behaviors that are symptomatic of PTSD. A cognitive behavior therapy can be used in the Western societies that are predisposed to substance abuse-related disorder. One of the intervention methods that can be used at the family level to create support for patients is biological measures. Gau et al. (2007) found out that treatment helps patients to recuperate from the drugs and create a session that is not fit for therapy. Adults must be trained to stay away from the substances through therapy that creates inner drives and values for a better life. References Cssp.org,. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.cssp.org/reform/strengtheningfamilies Donnelly, C., & Amaya-Jackson, L. (2002). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents. Pediatric Drugs, 4(3), 159-170. doi:10.2165/00128072-200204030-00003 GAU, S., CHONG, M., YANG, P., YEN, C., LIANG, K., & CHENG, A. (2007). Psychiatric and psychosocial predictors of substance use disorders among adolescents: Longitudinal study. The British Journal Of Psychiatry, 190(1), 42-48. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.106.022871 Lewinsohn, P., Rohde, P., & Seeley, J. (1998). Major Depressive Disorder in older Adolescents: Prevalence, risks factors, and clinical Implications. Clinical Psychology Review, 8(7), 765-794. Shemesh, E. (2005). Comparison of Parent and Child Reports of Emotional Trauma Symptoms in Pediatric Outpatient Settings. PEDIATRICS, 115(5), e582-e589. doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2201 Read More