Treatment of posttraumatic stress symptoms in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their families: A randomized clinical trial

Anne E. Kazak, Melissa A. Alderfer, Randi Streisand, Steven Simms, Mary T. Rourke, Lamia P. Barakat, Paul Gallagher, Avital Cnaan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

247 Scopus citations

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), particularly intrusive thoughts, avoidance, and arousal, are among the most common psychological aftereffects of childhood cancer for survivors and their mothers and fathers. We conducted a randomized wait-list control trial of a newly developed 4-session, 1-day intervention aimed at reducing PTSS that integrates cognitive-behavioral and family therapy approaches - the Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program (SCCIP). Participants were 150 adolescent survivors and their mothers, fathers, and adolescent siblings. Significant reductions in intrusive thoughts among fathers and in arousal among survivors were found in the treatment group. A multiple imputations approach was used to address nonrandom missing data and indicated that treatment effects would likely have been stronger had more distressed families been retained. The data are supportive of brief interventions to reduce PTSS in this population and provide additional support for the importance of intervention for multiple members of the family.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)493-504
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Family Psychology
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • Cancer
  • Family
  • Intervention
  • PTSD
  • Posttraumatic stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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