Researchers conducted a large review to understand which psychological therapies might help young children who have experienced trauma. They analyzed data from 127 different studies involving over 5,600 children aged 12 and under. The review looked at 12 different treatment approaches, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and various forms of play therapy.
The main finding was that TF-CBT is currently the most researched and empirically supported therapy for reducing trauma-related symptoms in this age group. For some other therapies, like Sandplay, the analysis suggested a large positive effect, while EMDR, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and play therapy showed small-to-moderate positive effects. It is important to note that these results came from a partial analysis and the strength of the evidence varied.
Readers should be cautious for a few key reasons. The quality of the original studies was mixed, which affects confidence in the results. For five of the treatments listed, the reviewers found no evidence to analyze at all. This means we don't know if those therapies work for young children. The review shows which therapies have been studied the most, but it does not prove that one treatment causes better outcomes than another for every child.
