TY - JOUR
T1 - Mediators of Outcome in Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy with Youth
T2 - A Systematic Review
AU - Protić, Sonja
AU - Wittmann, Lutz
AU - Taubner, Svenja
AU - Conejo-Cerón, Sonia
AU - Ioannou, Yianna
AU - Heinonen, Erkki
AU - Saliba, Andrea
AU - Moreno-Peral, Patricia
AU - Volkert, Jana
AU - Barkauskiene, Rasa
AU - Julia Schmidt, Stefanie
AU - Rangel Santos Henriques, Margarida Isabel
AU - Pinheiro Mota, Catarina
AU - Sales, Célia M.D.
AU - Røssberg, Jan Ivar
AU - Adler, Asta
AU - Giacomo, Dina Di
AU - Mucha Vieira, Filipa
AU - Drndarević, Nikola
AU - Ulberg, Randi
AU - Stepisnik Perdih, Tjasa
AU - Mestre, Jose M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - This article aimed to provide a systematic narrative synthesis of existing studies on the mediators of change in psychotherapy with adolescents (10–19 years) and transition age youth (TAY) (20–29 years) who have experienced trauma-related symptoms or posttraumatic disorder. Additionally, we were interested in identifying psychotherapy-, trauma type-, and clients’ age- and gender-specific mediators of treatment outcome. Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, a total of 3,723 studies published in PubMed and PsycINFO databases were screened against inclusion criteria, revealing 15 eligible studies. No studies with only TAY were found; therefore, all results were limited to therapy with adolescents. Cognitive mediators were tested in 66% of selected studies, followed by parents/family-related, mental-health-related, therapy-related, and behavioral mediators. Moderate evidence was found for posttraumatic cognitions, whereas therapeutic alliance seemed to be a promising candidate for future research. Striking absence of non-cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions, emotional and adolescent-specific mediators, as well as studies with males and in non-Western societies was evident. Future original studies would benefit from applying methodological rigor in respect to mediation testing.
AB - This article aimed to provide a systematic narrative synthesis of existing studies on the mediators of change in psychotherapy with adolescents (10–19 years) and transition age youth (TAY) (20–29 years) who have experienced trauma-related symptoms or posttraumatic disorder. Additionally, we were interested in identifying psychotherapy-, trauma type-, and clients’ age- and gender-specific mediators of treatment outcome. Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, a total of 3,723 studies published in PubMed and PsycINFO databases were screened against inclusion criteria, revealing 15 eligible studies. No studies with only TAY were found; therefore, all results were limited to therapy with adolescents. Cognitive mediators were tested in 66% of selected studies, followed by parents/family-related, mental-health-related, therapy-related, and behavioral mediators. Moderate evidence was found for posttraumatic cognitions, whereas therapeutic alliance seemed to be a promising candidate for future research. Striking absence of non-cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions, emotional and adolescent-specific mediators, as well as studies with males and in non-Western societies was evident. Future original studies would benefit from applying methodological rigor in respect to mediation testing.
KW - adolescents and transition age youth
KW - mediators
KW - psychotherapy
KW - systematic review
KW - trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85183875985&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/15248380231223264
DO - 10.1177/15248380231223264
M3 - Review article
C2 - 38281152
AN - SCOPUS:85183875985
SN - 1524-8380
JO - Trauma, Violence, and Abuse
JF - Trauma, Violence, and Abuse
ER -