Topic: Alcohol/Drugs/Tobacco, Safety, Trauma
Target Population: Adolescents, Young Adults, Families
Sector: Community-Based, Medical Setting, School-Based
This program is for youth 12 to 21 years old, who have been deemed to be vulnerable and/or disadvantaged, with a history of complex trauma, and their families.
ITCT-A is designed to address the needs of individuals through early mediation of trauma-related mental health issues through structured protocols and interventions that are customized to the specific needs of each client’s sociocultural environment. This program can be implemented in community, school, or medical settings.
Results from one internal pre-post study of 151 participants, who were between 8 and 17 years old in Southern California from 2001-2009, found that individuals who participated in this treatment experienced significant reductions in anxiety, depression, post-traumatic distress, anger, dissociation, and sexual issues. Findings also suggest dose-dependent improvement, which indicates that greater symptomatic improvements were experienced the longer an individual was in therapy. This study did not include a control group, and there was no follow-up with participants beyond post-treatment.
ITCT-A includes an initial evaluation and periodic monitoring of youth’s symptoms, support systems, coping skills, relationships, and stressors to determine treatment modalities that are delivered with socio-cultural sensitivity. Individual, group, and family therapies are available, and they focus on the following topics:
Participants can complete written logs to help them identify their triggers and homework assignments that can help them process their trauma.
The program identifies and involves support individuals, who are willing to share in the participant’s treatment, such as caretakers, family members, and community members/organizations. In addition, separate treatment is available for substance use and self-harm behavior.
This program has been implemented among youth and their families in California. No additional previous use information outside of the study listed in the Evidence section was located.
Clinicians who have at least a master’s degree, clinical experience in a mental health-related field, and state licensure that allows independent clinical practice implement this program. Training is mandatory and free and includes two options: a 1-day, 6- hour certification and a 2-day, 12-hour training that includes webinars, ongoing monthly calls (1.5 hours), and supervisor consultation. The developers recommend the second, more comprehensive, option.
Considerations for implementing this program include establishing participant, parent, caretaker, and other support individuals’ buy-in; obtaining parental permission for participants under 18 years old; ensuring facilitators receive training; securing a private space to provide individual and group therapy; and ensuring the program is delivered with fidelity.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing ITCT-A, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you! Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email clearinghouse@psu.edu
Treatment includes weekly, 45- to 60-minute, individual therapy sessions. Caretakers engage in weekly or bi-weekly 30- to 45-minute sessions. Family therapy sessions are offered, and program length varies from 16 to 36 sessions depending on individual treatment goals and needs.
Specific implementation costs were not located. The implementation guide and specialized treatment guides can be downloaded for free here https://keck.usc.edu/adolescent-trauma-training-center/download-itct-a-guides-and-resources/. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more.
To move ICT-A to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation with a strong study design should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program. Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact Karianne Chen, University of Southern California Adolescent Trauma Training Center, by mail 3625 Del Amo Boulevard, Suite 170, Torrance, CA 90503-1643, phone (310) 370-9208, email karianne.chen@med.usc.edu, or visit attc.usc.edu
https://www.nctsn.org/interventions/integrative-treatment-complex-trauma-adolescents, https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/interventions/itcta_fact_sheet.pdf, https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/integrative-treatment-of-complex-trauma-for-adolescents/, https://keck.usc.edu/adolescent-trauma-training-center/about-itcta/, and https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/interventions/itcta_training_guidelines.pdf
Lanktree, C. B., Briere, J., Godbout, N., Hodges, M., Chen, K., Trimm … Freed, W. (2012). Treating multitraumatized, socially marginalized children: Results of a naturalistic treatment outcome study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 21, 813-828. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2012.722588
Briere, J., & Lanktree, C. B. (2012). Treating complex trauma in adolescents and young adults. Sage.
Semple, R. J., & Briere, J. (2015). Mindfulness training to reduce substance abuse in adolescent trauma survivors. Journal of Substance Abuse and Alcoholism, 3(2), 1-3.
