J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2014 May;53(3):171-177.

Treatment Response of Affect Regulation Group Therapy for Recently Traumatized School Children

• Chung CY
• Kim D
• Kim SH
• Bae H
• Lee K
• Go B

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment effect and predictors of response of affect regulation group therapy (ARGT) delivered to a group of recently traumatized children.
METHODS
A total of 464 school children, who had witnessed or confronted a tragic accident at school, were given a single-session of affect regulation group therapy, that which included psychoeducation and affect regulation elements from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Of 213 children whose with initial score of Subject Unit of Disturbance Scale (SUDS) score over 4, we compared pre- and post-treatment scores and performed conducted the responder vs. non-responder comparison. The pPost-traumatic disorder (PTSD) symptom scores measured by using Child Reaction to Traumatic Events Scale-Revised (CRTES-R), demographic variables, and clinical variables were considered.
RESULTS
Affect regulation group therapy was effective for children who had experienced an acute traumatic event (t=16.3, p<0.001). Baseline SUDS score of for non-responder were was significantly higher (t=-2.89, p<0.001) and CRTES-R score approached a level of significance level (t=-1.72, p=0.09). However, results of logistic regression analysis identified showed that the pretreatment SUDS score was the only significant predictor of non-response.
CONCLUSION
Affect regulation group therapy appeared to be effective for children who had undergone experienced an acute traumatic event. And in addition, the survivors' subjective distress was more important to treatment response than severity of PTSD symptoms severity.

Keyword

Trauma; Acute stress disorder; Group therapy; Affect regulation; EMDR; Children

MeSH Terms

Child*
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Eye Movements
Humans
Logistic Models
Psychotherapy, Group*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute

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