TRAUMA-FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD PTSD IN CONTEXTS OF SOCIAL VULNERABILITY: AN ANALYTICAL REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61164/73vy5q15Keywords:
Childhood Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Social Vulnerability; Childhood; Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions.Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in childhood is a complex clinical condition, especially when associated with contexts of social vulnerability, in which structural, relational, and institutional factors intensify exposure to traumatic events and hinder access to specialized interventions. This article aims to critically analyze the scientific evidence on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in the treatment of childhood PTSD in contexts of social vulnerability, examining both its clinical effectiveness and its theoretical and practical limitations. This is an analytical review of the literature, based on national and international databases, with an emphasis on empirical studies, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines published in recent years. The results indicate that TCC-FT shows consistent evidence of effectiveness in reducing traumatic symptoms, regulating emotions, and strengthening adaptive strategies in children and adolescents. However, critical analysis reveals significant challenges related to the generalization of protocols, therapeutic adherence, family participation, and the cultural appropriateness of interventions in contexts marked by poverty, structural violence, and fragile care networks. It can be concluded that, although TCC-FT is an evidence-based intervention, its effectiveness in contexts of social vulnerability depends on coordination with public policies, contextual adaptations, and intersectoral approaches, pointing to the need for future research that integrates clinical, social, and institutional dimensions.
Downloads
References
BROWN, R. C. et al. Effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents: updated evidence and implementation challenges. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Oxford, v. 65, n. 2, p. 123-137, 2024.
DORSEY, S. et al. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children in community mental health settings: effectiveness and implementation outcomes. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, New York, v. 50, n. 1, p. 45-58, 2023.
GILLIES, D. et al. Psychological therapies for children and adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, London, n. 5, CD012371, 2024.
KEHL, Maria Rita. O tempo e o cão: a atualidade das depressões. São Paulo: Boitempo, 2010.
LEWIS, S. J. et al. Childhood trauma, social adversity and risk for post-traumatic stress disorder: developmental pathways and clinical implications. Development and Psychopathology, Cambridge, v. 35, n. 4, p. 1567-1582, 2023.
McLAUGHLIN, K. A.; LAMBERT, H. K. Child trauma exposure and mental health disparities: mechanisms and implications for intervention. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Palo Alto, v. 20, p. 189-215, 2024.
MENEZES, A. L. do A. et al. Parallels between research in mental health in Brazil and in the field of Global Mental Health: an integrative literature review. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, v. 34, n. 11, e00158017, 2018.
ENTRE PROTAGONISMO DISCENTE E EVIDÊNCIAS NEUROCIENTÍFICAS:Uma Revisão sobre Metodologias Ativas de Aprendizagem. (2026). Revista Saúde Dos Vales, 1(01), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.61164/gvgz8a87
MURRAY, L. K. et al. Barriers and facilitators to trauma-focused treatments in low-resource and high-adversity settings. World Psychiatry, Chichester, v. 23, n. 1, p. 78-90, 2024.
RIGOLI, M. M. et al. The role of memory in posttraumatic stress disorder: implications for clinical practice. Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, v. 38, n. 3, p. 119-127, 2016.
TOL, W. A. et al. Outcomes of trauma-focused therapies for children exposed to chronic adversity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Medicine, San Francisco, v. 20, n. 3, e1004187, 2023.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Luiz Fernando Ridolfi, Gustavo Negreiros Molla

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits the sharing of the work with proper acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal;
Authors are authorized to enter into separate, additional agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (e.g., posting in an institutional repository or publishing it as a book chapter), provided that authorship and initial publication in this journal are properly acknowledged, and that the work is adapted to the template of the respective repository;
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post and distribute their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their personal websites) at any point before or during the editorial process, as this may lead to productive exchanges and increase the impact and citation of the published work (see The Effect of Open Access);
Authors are responsible for correctly providing their personal information, including name, keywords, abstracts, and other relevant data, thereby defining how they wish to be cited. The journal’s editorial board is not responsible for any errors or inconsistencies in these records.
PRIVACY POLICY
The names and email addresses provided to this journal will be used exclusively for the purposes of this publication and will not be made available for any other purpose or to third parties.
Note: All content of the work is the sole responsibility of the author and the advisor.
