The Effectiveness of Group Guided Written Exposure Therapy for CPTSD Symptoms Among Adolescents

The Effectiveness of Group Guided Written Exposure Therapy for CPTSD Symptoms Among Adolescents : A Multi-centered Randomized Controlled Trail

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of group-delivered Guided Written Exposure Therapy for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (GWE-C) among Chinese adolescents through a randomized controlled trial. A total of 120 participants will be recruited, with 60 randomized to the GWE-C group and 60 randomized to the supportive therapy (ST) group. The GWE-C intervention will consist of 7 to 10 group sessions. The primary outcome, assessed by the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), will be measured at baseline, post-treatment, 1-month follow-up, and 3-month follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 10 and 18 years;
• Meet the diagnostic or subclinical criteria for Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), defined as the presence of at least one positive symptom in each of the PTSD symptom clusters, along with at least one positive symptom in each of the Disturbance in Self-Organization (DSO) symptom clusters;
• Possess sufficient literacy and language skills to complete writing-based tasks;
• Be able to understand the study procedures and complete the required assessments;
• Provide written informed consent, with consent also obtained from their legal guardians.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of a severe psychiatric disorder or neurodevelopmental disorder, such as schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or other severe psychiatric conditions that would interfere with study participation;
• Presence of a severe physical illness that would impair the ability to engage in the intervention;
• Suicidal ideation within the past six months;
• Ongoing exposure to traumatic events;
• Currently receiving other trauma-focused psychological treatments.