2657 - THE TEMAS NARRATIVE TRAUMA THERAPY: MULTICULTURAL CLINICAL TECHNIQUES

Session: D06S014 - Culture and Psychological Processes 3
AUTHORS:
Cardalda Elsa (American Multicultural Institute ~ New York ~ United States of America) , Costantino Erminia (American Multicultural Institute ~ New York ~ United States of America)
Abstract text:
As an evidence-based therapy TNTT is based on the principles of role modeling and integrates story telling with pictures targeted to deal with issues of trauma, anxiety and depression. TNTT is rooted in storytelling and administered in a group format. TNTT was first used with Hispanic children in 1994 and showed to be effective in reducing anxiety and aggressive behavior. TNTT was also successfully used to treat trauma in Hispanic children in a multisite study, after 9/11 terrorist attacks and later, in a large school-based trauma project in New York City. In the latter study, three hundred and sixty-four Hispanic students attending public schools, ages 6 to 11 were treated. Treatment outcomes were assessed with the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-IV, Children's Depression Inventory, and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale-2. Pre-therapy children evidenced considerable risk for PTSD. After 14 sessions of TNTT children improved significantly. Post-intervention data indicated dramatic improvements in psychological wellbeing across all levels of PTSD, depression and anxiety. After the treatment, only 7.1% of children exceeded the 37-score threshold of the UCLA scale associated with a PTSD diagnosis, as compared to 20% pre-treatment. Additionally, moderate PTSD was reduced from 25.7% pre-treatment to 15.9% post-treatment, and mild PTSD was reduced from 22.3% to 10.6%. Results indicated that when compared, CBT and TNTT therapy were equally significant in reducing PTSD; however, only TNTT significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms. Our research concluded that TNTT offered in school settings, is a valid, cost-efficient method of clinical intervention with at risk Hispanic children. The objectives of the presentation are to show that TNTT: (1) is a useful clinical therapeutic tool for children, (2) is a valid multicultural evidence-based therapy (3) has been expanded with versions for screening sexual abuse, depression, suicide risk, bullying, obesity, and pandemic COVID.