@article{ref1,
title="Evaluation of an early intervention model for child and adolescent victims of interpersonal violence",
journal="Children (Basel, Switzerland)",
year="2021",
author="Calvano, Claudia and Murray, Elena and Bentz, Lea and Bos, Sascha and Reiter, Kathrin and Ihme, Loretta and Winter, Sibylle M.",
volume="8",
number="10",
pages="e941-e941",
abstract="Only the minority of youth exposed to traumatic events receive mental health care, as trauma-informed clinical services are lacking or are poorly accessible. In order to bridge this gap, the Outpatient Trauma Clinic (OTC) was founded, an easily accessible early, short-time intervention, with onward referral to follow-up treatment. This report presents the OTC's interventional approach and first outcome data. Using a retrospective naturalistic design, we analyzed trauma- and intervention-related data of the sample (n = 377, 55.4% female, mean age 10.95, SD = 4.69). Following drop-out analyses, predictors for treatment outcome were identified by logistic regression. The majority (81.9%) was suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or adjustment disorders. Around one forth dropped out of treatment; these cases showed higher avoidance symptoms at presentation. In 91%, psychological symptoms improved. Experience of multiple traumatic events was the strongest predictor for poor treatment outcome (B = -0.823, SE = 0.313, OR = 0.439, 95% CI 0.238-0.811). Around two thirds were connected to follow-up treatment. The OTC realized a high retention rate, initial improvement of symptoms and referral to subsequent longer-term psychotherapeutic treatment in the majority. Further dissemination of comparable early intervention models is needed, in order to improve mental health care for this vulnerable group.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2227-9067",
doi="10.3390/children8100941",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/children8100941"
}