Recovery Learning for Adolescents After Traumatic Experiences

Summary

Most children who have been removed from their family home and placed under the care of a Local Authority have been exposed to many frightening experiences, including witnessing violence, not being fed or cared for, or being abused. These experiences can lead to significant emotional difficulties. One such difficulty is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can involve symptoms like having constant "flashbacks" of scary experiences, and a constant feeling of being in danger. This can have a big effect on children's lives. Yet, it is still not clear how to help young people in care who are experiencing high PTSD symptoms.

One idea the researchers have is to use a group-based online programme which has successfully helped other young people who have been exposed to different kinds of stressful experiences (for example, war). To test whether this programme could help children in care too, the researchers first need to see whether social workers have the time to check in with a child about PTSD symptoms; whether young people and their carers are willing to be involved in a research project which will test out the treatment programme; and whether mental health workers might face any problems when delivering the programme. This project aims to answer these questions.

The researchers will train social workers to complete an 8-question interview with 10-17 year olds in care, which will measure symptoms of PTSD. If the young person is experiencing high symptoms, they will be invited to take part in a research project. If they would like to join the project, children will be randomly selected to take part in the online group programme, or be given care-as-usual. The group programme involves the young person taking part in five weekly meetings held online, where they will learn skills to reduce their distress, and be supported to work through their difficult memories. Their carers will also take part in two online meetings which will teach them how to support their young person.

Conditions

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Teaching Recovery Techniques

Teaching Recovery Techniques is a 7-session group programme, with 5-sessions for the young person and 2-sessions for the carer. All sessions will be held online. The carer sessions are focused on psychoeducation around trauma and PTSD, as well as skills for supporting a young person through the intervention and with PTSD symptoms more broadly. The young person sessions are primarily focused on skill building and include: psychoeducation and understanding intrusive memories; intrusive images, worries and dreams; arousal, emotions, relaxation and coping; avoidance and triggers; and, memories.

BEHAVIORAL

Care as usual

In the care as usual arm, social workers will follow their standard care protocol for young people experiencing psychological distress. A typical response may include a referral to either the specialist local CAMHS or general CAMHS.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute for Health Research, United Kingdom

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of East Anglia

  collaborator OTHER

• King's College London

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Edinburgh

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Bristol

  collaborator OTHER

• Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of Bath

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-08-01

Primary Completion

2021-08-01

Completion

2021-12-01

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations