Child-Parent Psychotherapy After the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake

Child-Parent Psychotherapy for Post-Earthquake Trauma in Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) in reducing trauma-related symptoms and improving attachment quality among preschool-aged children who experienced the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye. A total of 60 caregiver-child dyads (children aged 3-6) will be recruited from 11 earthquake-affected provinces. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group, receiving 12 weekly CPP sessions, or a no-intervention control group. CPP will be delivered by trained clinical psychologists through either online or face-to-face sessions. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, mid-intervention (after session 6), and post-intervention (after session 12). Outcomes include child trauma symptoms, social-emotional functioning, and attachment quality, as well as caregiver reflective functioning, stress, and emotional well-being.

This randomized controlled trial investigates the impact of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) on post-traumatic recovery and attachment in children aged 3 to 6 years who were exposed to the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. CPP is a trauma-informed dyadic therapy that integrates psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, attachment, and developmental principles, emphasizing co-construction of trauma narratives and caregiver reflective functioning through play-based interaction.

The study will enroll 60 caregiver-child dyads from the 11 most affected cities in Türkiye: Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Malatya, Adana, Osmaniye, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Kilis, and Elazığ. Eligible participants include children who were between 1-4 years old at the time of the disaster and are currently aged 3-6, along with a primary caregiver (mother or father) who is consistently involved in daily care.

The intervention group will receive 12 weekly CPP sessions (60 minutes each), conducted either online or in person, depending on logistical and contextual needs. Sessions will be delivered by licensed clinical psychologists trained in the CPP protocol. The control group will receive no intervention during the trial period but will complete assessments in parallel with the intervention group.

Primary outcomes include reduction in child trauma symptoms and improvement in social-emotional functioning and attachment quality. Secondary outcomes include parental stress, reflective functioning, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Data will be collected at three timepoints: baseline (T1), mid-intervention (after session 6, T2), and post-intervention (after session 12, T3).

All instruments are validated in Turkish populations and age-appropriate. The child measures include the Ages & Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE), Brief Attachment Scale (BAS-16), and a trauma symptom checklist appropriate for preschoolers. Caregiver measures include the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ), Parenting Stress Index Short Form (PSI-SF), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 3 to 6 years old at the time of enrollment
• Resided in one of the 11 cities affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake (e.g., Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Adana, Osmaniye, Diyarbakır, Kilis, Elazığ)
• Exposure to at least one qualifying traumatic event due to the earthquake (e.g., witnessing injury or death, loss of home, separation from caregiver)
• Living with a primary caregiver (mother or father) who consents to participate in the study
• Both caregiver and child are available to participate in 12 weekly sessions of CPP (online or face-to-face)
• Caregiver is fluent in Turkish and able to complete self-report questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

• Child or caregiver currently receiving psychotherapy or psychiatric treatment
• Child diagnosed with developmental disorder (e.g., autism, intellectual disability) that significantly impairs communication or relational functioning
• Caregiver with a diagnosed severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychosis, bipolar disorder) or active substance use disorder
• Families with ongoing legal custody disputes or instability that may interfere with consistent participation
• Inability to access internet or digital device (for participants randomized to online therapy)