Complex PTSD and treatment outcomes in TF-CBT for youth: a naturalistic study

Figures & data

Table 1. Sample characteristics (n = 73).

	Total sample (n = 73) M (SD) / % (n)	PTSD (n = 28) M (SD) / % (n)	CPTSD (n = 45) M (SD) / % (n)	Test of difference t-test/ exact chi square p-value
Demographics
Female sex	89.0 (65)	82.1 (23)	93.3 (42)	.137
Age	15.4 (1.8)	15.4 (1.7)	15.4 (2.0)	.997
Birth country
Norway (vs other)	84.9 (62)	92.6 (25)	84.1 (37)	.296
Exposure to trauma
Number of trauma types^a	5.3 (2.31)	4.9 (2.6)	5.6 (2.1)	.193
Sexual abuse	76.7 (56)	71.4 (20)	80.0 (36)	.399
Community violence	61.6 (45)	50.0 (14)	68.9 (31)	.107
Bullying	67.1 (49)	57.1 (16)	73.3 (33)	.152
Domestic violence	50.7 (37)	39.3 (11)	57.8 (26)	.124
Accidents/illnesses	63.0 (46)	60.7 (17)	64.4 (29)	.748

^a Number of trauma types among the 15 types of trauma in the CATS-2 checklist (range 1–15).

Figure 1. Levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in youth with CPTSD compared to youth with PTSD over the course of TF-CBT, measured pre-treatment, session 5, session 10, session 15 and post-treatment.

Table 2. Associations between CPTSD (vs PTSD) and change in symptoms of posttraumatic stress and complex posttraumatic stress from pre-treatment to post-treatment (T1–T5) in the intent to treat sample (n = 73)^a.

	Symptoms of posttraumatic stress			Symptoms of complex posttraumatic stress			Symptoms of disturbances in self-organization
	Estimate	95% CI	p-value	Estimate	95% CI	p-value	Estimate	95% CI	p-value
Intercept
PTSD	12.99	11.74–14.25	< .001	22.37	20.17–24.56	< .001	9.35	8.01–10.68	< .001
CPTSD	15.81	14.79–16.83	< .001	31.61	29.81–33.41	< .001	15.78	14.70–16.85	< .001
Difference CPTSD – PTSD	2.82	1.17–4.46	.002	9.24	6.38–12.11	< .001	6.43	4.68–8.18	< .001
Slope
PTSD	−1.42	−1.84 to −1.01	< .001	−2.28	−3.01 to −1.55	< .001	−0.84	−1.29 to −0.39	< .001
CPTSD	−2.09	−2.41 to −1.76	< .001	−4.16	−4.72 to −3.59	< .001	−2.06	−2.41 to −1.71	< .001
Difference CPTSD – PTSD	−0.66	−1.19 to −0.13	.015	−1.87	−2.80 to −0.95	< .001	−1.22	−0.79 to −0.65	< .001

^a Symptoms of posttraumatic stress include re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Symptoms of complex posttraumatic stress include re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal, and disturbances in self-organisation. All models had participants and therapists as random effects.

Figure 2. Levels of complex posttraumatic stress symptoms (CPTSS) in youth with CPTSD compared to youth with PTSD over the course of TF-CBT, measured pre-treatment, session 5, session 10, session 15 and post-treatment.

Figure 3. Levels of disturbances in self-organization (DSO) in youth with CPTSD compared to youth with PTSD over the course of TF-CBT, measured pre-treatment, session 5, session 10, session 15 and post-treatment.

Data availability statement

According to European law (GDPR), data containing potentially identifying or sensitive patient information are restricted. Our data involving clinical participants are therefore not freely available. Data may be made available upon reasonable request.