A randomised controlled trial of integrated psychological therapy for traumatic stress and substance use among adolescents aged 12-25 years

This two-arm, parallel, single-blind RCT with blinded follow-up at 4 and 12 months poststudy entry, conducted in Sydney, Australia, examined the efficacy of an integrated trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural treatment for traumatic stress and substance use among adolescents (Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Using Prolonged Exposure - Adolescent (COPE-A)), relative to a supportive counselling control condition (Person-Centred Therapy (PCT)). Participants (n~100 adolescents aged 12-18 years) and their caregivers (caregiver participation is optional) will be allocated to undergo either COPE-A or PCT (allocation ratio 1:1) using minimisation. Both therapies will be delivered individually by project psychologists over a maximum of 16 sessions of 60-90 min duration and will include provision of up to four 30 min optional caregiver sessions. The primary outcome will be between-group differences in change in the severity of PTSD symptoms from baseline to 4-month follow-up, as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents for DSM-5.