TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - The body can change the score: empirical support for somatic regulation in the treatment of traumatized adolescents
JO  - Journal of child and adolescent trauma
A1  - Warner, Elizabeth
A1  - Spinazzola, Joseph
A1  - Westcott, Anne
A1  - Gunn, Cecile
A1  - Hodgdon, Hilary
SP  - 237
EP  - 246
VL  - 7
IS  - 4
N2  - Traumatized adolescents have pervasive problems with self-regulation and often have difficulties in language-based treatment models. This paper provides preliminary empirical support for the efficacy of Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART), a treatment model which targets somatic regulation as an avenue to behavioral and emotional regulation. A case vignette illustrates the intervention model. Outcomes are presented from a quasi-experimental pilot study employing a matched control design comparing the additive benefit of SMART intervention to treatment as usual (TAU) in two adolescent residential treatment sites, with a polyvictimized sample. There were significant reductions in domains targeted by SMART: Internalizing symptoms on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the Somatic Complaints and Anxious/Depressed subscales. In secondary analyses, a trend approaching significance was found on the Overarousal subscale of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-Reaction Index (PTSD-RI). This pilot study suggests the contribution somatic regulation can make to stabilization and skills building in complex trauma treatment for adolescents.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1936-1521
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40653-014-0030-z
ID  - ref1
ER  -