Can I use CPT with young people?

The simple answer is YES. Rosner and colleagues (2019) put this to test via a multicenter, randomized clinical trial of 88 participants (aged 14-21 years), with developmentally adapted Cognitive Processing Therapy (D-CPT).

Cognitive Processing Therapy was adapted by the addition of some of the following:
• Inclusion of a motivational and alliance-building phase
• Inclusion of emotion regulation and consideration of typical developmental tasks
• Higher session frequency in the trauma-focused core CPT phase

Rosner et al. 2019 reported that adolescents and young adults with abuse-related PTSD benefited more from D-CPT than the control condition (wait-list condition with treatment advice). Treatment success was stable at the follow-up and generalized to borderline symptoms and other comorbidities.

References
Rosner R, Rimane E, Frick U, et al. Effect of Developmentally Adapted Cognitive Processing Therapy for Youth With Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Childhood Sexual and Physical Abuse: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019;76(5):484–491. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4349

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