ABCT 58th Annual Convention: Opening Our Doors: Inspiring Community Engagement, Advocacy, & Innovation to Advance CBT

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies will be hosting its 58th Annual Convention this upcoming November from the 14th to the 17th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Four of Dr. Brown’s doctoral students, her post-doc, intake coordinator, and project coordinator will be attending the convention. See below for the names of the attendees and a description of their projects:

1. Title: Effectiveness of a workshop on evidence-based engagement strategies for school-based providers.

Authors: Russi Soffer, Psy.D., Maddi Gervasio, M.A., Tanya Sharma, M.A., & Elissa J. Brown, Ph.D.

The NCHP aims to increase training and access to trauma-specific interventions in schools across the United States. The proposed symposium talk is an examination of the effectiveness of an interactive workshop focused on evidence-based engagement strategies for trauma survivors.

2. Title: Relation Between Referral Source and Completion of Trauma Therapy in a Community Setting

Authors: Olivia Fiallo, B.A., Katharine Murphy, B.A., Maddi Gervasio, M.A., & Elissa J. Brown, Ph.D.

This project utilized data from an OJJDP-funded randomized controlled trial (PI: E. Brown) comparing Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT; Kolko et al., 2011) to a waitlist control group in a community setting. Kolko (1996) reported a 20% dropout rate for AF-CBT. We aim to identify factors predicting attrition in AF-CBT, specifically focusing on referral source and caregiver PTSD at baseline. We hypothesize that children with parent-involved referrals have higher odds of completing AF-CBT, while increased severity of caregiver PTSD decreases the odds of completion.

3. Title: PTSD symptom structure in youth exposed to interpersonal violence: Support for a four-factor model

Authors: Alyssa N. Williamson, B.A., Katharine Murphy, B.A., & Elissa J. Brown, Ph.D.

We examined the symptom structure of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a sample of 117 youth ages 4-17 exposed to interpersonal violence who received trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy at a community clinic. Using exploratory factor analysis of the Child PTSD Symptom Scale for DSM-V, we found evidence for a 4 factor (or cluster) PTSD presentation similar to DSM-V criteria, with the strongest factor containing the following symptoms: negative feelings about self, others, or the world; self-blame; negative emotions; anhedonia; feelings of detachment; inability to experience positive emotions; difficulty concentrating; and sleep disturbances.

4. Title: Changes in blame attributions during Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Authors: Nicole Milani, M.A., Elissa J. Brown, Ph.D., Tanya Sharma, M.A., Danielle Citera, Ph.D., & Michelle Cusumano, Ph.D.

Children with interpersonal trauma exposure participating in TF-CBT show different patterns of blame attribution change over the course of treatment. Self-blame decreased overall, from pre- to post-treatment, with more change occurring during phase two, from mid to post-treatment. Accident blame decreased overall, from pre- to post-treatment, with no phase differences. Perpetrator blame did not change over the course of treatment.

5. Title: Association between parenting practices and attrition in Alternative for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Authors: Katharine Murphy, B.A., Alyssa Williamson, B.A., and Elissa J. Brown, Ph.D.

This poster aims to examine the relationship between parenting practices and attrition in AF-CBT, a treatment designed for families whose interactions are characterized by hostility, conflict, or harsh physical punishment. Results indicate that the use of positive parenting practices may protect families against dropout.

6. Title: Developmental differences in improvements in locus of control in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

Authors: Tanya Sharma, M.A., Elissa J. Brown, Ph.D., Russi Soffer, Psy.D., & Nicole Milani, M.A.

Locus of control (LOC) is the perception of the degree of personal control people have in their lives (Rotter, 1966). Attributing causes of life events to oneself (e.g., self-efficacy) is known as an internal LOC, whereas an external LOC is associated with attributions of uncontrollable factors, such as fate or luck. An internal LOC is a protective factor for the development and maintenance of PTSD in trauma survivors. In the proposed poster, we aim to examine whether LOC changes over the course of TF-CBT. We hypothesize that LOC will shift from external to internal by the end of treatment. We also expect to see changes in LOC that differ by developmental level.

7. Title: Does self-blame about the trauma moderate the relation between social support and depression?

Authors: Csenge Bődi, B.A., Russi Soffer, Psy.D., & Elissa J Brown, Ph.D.

Description: Self-blame at pre-treatment is a significant moderator of the relationship between interpersonal relations and symptoms of depression at baseline, even after controlling for age. These results suggest that attributions of self-blame may not allow youth to fully draw on the benefits of peer social support when presenting with depressive symptomatology.

8. Title: Changes in youth anger during Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy – Accepted as a Special Interest Group (SIG) Poster

Authors: Nicole Milani, M.A., Elissa J. Brown, Ph.D., Tanya Sharma, M.A., Raymond DiGiuseppe, Ph.D.

Description: Despite the established prevalence of anger in the aftermath of IPV, it remains unknown how anger severity changes during TF-CBT and which treatment components are associated with such change. In the proposed poster, we aim to examine how self- and caregiver-reported anger in youth changes over the course of TF-CBT. We hypothesize that anger will decrease from both pre- to mid-treatment (Phase 1) and mid- to post-treatment (Phase 2), showing greater reductions during Phase 1.