Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools

Mental Health Promising

Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) is a school-based intervention designed to help children who have experienced traumatic life events. CBITS uses cognitive-behavioral techniques to reduce symptoms related to trauma exposure, build skills for handling stress and anxiety, and build peer and caregiver support.  

 

CBITS consists of group, individual, and caregiver education sessions and can include an optional teacher education session. Students take part in 10 group sessions where they participate in interactive discussions, games, and exercises and review activities completed in preparation for the session. Session 1 introduces participants to CBITS. Session 2 focuses on reactions to trauma and relaxation training. Sessions 3 and 4 use cognitive therapy techniques to help students combat negative thoughts. Sessions 5–7 use activities to help students process the traumatic event through imagination, drawing, writing, and sharing. Sessions 8 and 9 focus on problem-solving. Session 10 addresses how to prevent relapses in trauma symptoms and includes a graduation ceremony.  

 

Individual sessions occur between group sessions 2 and 5 and involve processing the traumatic event. All students participate in at least one individual session but can participate in up to two additional individual sessions based on their reactions to the prior individual session, symptoms since then, and progress in the group. 

 

The two caregiver education sessions discuss how children react to stress, the goals and principles of the program, and how to help children relax and feel less afraid or nervous. Finally, the optional teacher education session is designed to increase teacher support for and understanding of the CBITS program. 


CBITS is rated as a promising practice because at least one study achieved a rating of moderate or high on study design and execution and demonstrated a favorable effect on a target outcome.


Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Sep 2022


Sources

The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, and the studies reviewed. 


This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the Review Process page or download the Handbook.

Target Population

CBITS is used with students from 4th grade through 12th grade who have witnessed or experienced traumatic life events and have significant symptoms of PTSD or depression.

Dosage

CBITS includes ten 45-minute group sessions typically held once per week. Groups include six to eight students of similar ages. The program also includes one to three individual student sessions each lasting 30–45 minutes, two caregiver education sessions, and an optional teacher education session. CBITS is typically delivered over 10–12 weeks. 

Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings

CBITS is designed to be implemented in school settings.

Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research

  • School

Education, Certifications and Training

CBITS is implemented by mental health professionals with specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy and experience working with people who have experienced traumatic events. Training delivered by certified CBITS trainers is recommended. Live training options include a 12 hour in-person 2-day training or a virtual training, typically delivered in four 3-hour modules. A self-led online training is also available.

Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review

Jaycox, L. H., Langley, A. K., & Hoover, S. A. (2018). Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (2nd ed.). RAND Corporation.

Available languages

CBITS materials are available in English, Arabic, and Spanish.

Other supporting materials

CBITS Resources 

For More Information

Website: https://traumaawareschools.org/index.php/learn-more-cbits/   

Email: info@traumaawareschools.org  


Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

Results of Search and Review Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools
Identified in Search 17
Eligible for Review 3
Rated High 1
Rated Moderate 1
Rated Low 1
Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm 0
Outcome Effect Size Effect Size more info
and Implied Percentile Effect Implied Percentile Effect more info
N of Studies (Findings) N of Participants Summary of Findings
Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning 0.15
5
2 (26) 491 Favorable: 2
No Effect: 24
Unfavorable: 0
Child well-being: Educational achievement and attainment 0.03
0
1 (8) 293 Favorable: 0
No Effect: 8
Unfavorable: 0

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group.

Outcome Effect Size Effect Size more info
and Implied Percentile Effect Implied Percentile Effect more info
N of Studies (Findings) N of Participants Summary of Findings Months after treatment
when outcome measured
Months after treatment when outcome measured more info
Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning 0.15
5
2 (26) 491 Favorable: 2
No Effect: 24
Unfavorable: 0
-
Study 13157 - CBITS vs. Waitlist Control (Kataoka, 2003)
Children's Depression Inventory 0.38 *
14
- 198 - 1
Child PTSD Symptom Scale 0.42 *
16
- 198 - 1
Study 13169 - CBITS vs. Treatment as Usual (Sumi, 2021)
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 0.21
8
- 293 - 0
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Anxiety 0.13
5
- 293 - 0
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Depression 0.12
4
- 293 - 0
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Disassociation 0.10
3
- 293 - 0
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Anger 0.15
5
- 293 - 0
Youth Self-Report: Internalizing Problems 0.19
7
- 293 - 0
Youth Self-Report: Externalizing Problems 0.12
4
- 293 - 0
Youth Self-Report: Total Problems 0.13
5
- 293 - 0
Teacher's Report Form: Internalizing Problems -0.09
-3
- 293 - 0
Teacher's Report Form: Externalizing Problems -0.03
-1
- 293 - 0
Teacher's Report Form: Total Problems -0.05
-1
- 293 - 0
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -0.04
-1
- 293 - 12
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Anxiety -0.06
-2
- 293 - 12
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Depression 0.07
2
- 293 - 12
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Disassociation -0.09
-3
- 293 - 12
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children – Alternate Version: Anger 0.08
3
- 293 - 12
Youth Self-Report: Internalizing Problems -0.03
-1
- 293 - 12
Youth Self-Report: Externalizing Problems -0.17
-6
- 293 - 12
Youth Self-Report: Total Problems -0.09
-3
- 293 - 12
Teacher's Report Form: Internalizing Problems 0.02
0
- 293 - 12
Teacher's Report Form: Externalizing Problems -0.13
-5
- 293 - 12
Teacher's Report Form: Total Problems -0.10
-3
- 293 - 12
Academic Engaged Time Observations 0.16
6
- 293 - 0
Academic Engaged Time Observations 0.04
1
- 293 - 12
Child well-being: Educational achievement and attainment 0.03
0
1 (8) 293 Favorable: 0
No Effect: 8
Unfavorable: 0
-
Study 13169 - CBITS vs. Treatment as Usual (Sumi, 2021)
Woodcock-Johnson III: Letter-Word Identification -0.02
0
- 293 - 0
Woodcock-Johnson III: Passage Comprehension 0.13
5
- 293 - 0
Woodcock-Johnson III: Calculation -0.05
-1
- 293 - 0
Woodcock-Johnson III: Applied Problems 0.04
1
- 293 - 0
Woodcock-Johnson III: Letter-Word Identification 0.10
3
- 293 - 12
Woodcock-Johnson III: Passage Comprehension -0.12
-4
- 293 - 12
Woodcock-Johnson III: Calculation 0.05
1
- 293 - 12
Woodcock-Johnson III: Applied Problems 0.07
2
- 293 - 12

*p <.05

Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention group and a negative number favors the comparison group. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Section 5.10.4 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications.

Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.

Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.

Sometimes study results are reported in more than one document, or a single document reports results from multiple studies. Studies are identified below by their Prevention Services Clearinghouse study identification numbers. To receive a rating of supported or well-supported, the favorable evidence for a program or service must have been obtained from research conducted in a usual care or practice setting.

Studies Rated High

Study 13169

Sumi, W. C., Woodbridge, M. W., Wei, X., Thornton, S. P., & Roundfield, K. D. (2021). Measuring the impact of trauma-focused, cognitive behavioral group therapy with middle school students. School Mental Health: A Multidisciplinary Research and Practice Journal, 13(4), 680-694. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-021-09452-8


Studies Rated Moderate

Study 13157

Kataoka, S. H., Stein, B. D., Jaycox, L. H., Wong, M., Escudero, P., Tu, W., Zaragoza, C., & Fink, A. (2003). A school-based mental health program for traumatized Latino immigrant children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42(3), 311-318. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200303000-00011


Studies Rated Low

Study 13168

Stein, B. D., Jaycox, L. H., Kataoka, S. H., Wong, M., Tu, W., Elliott, M. N., & Fink, A. (2003). A mental health intervention for schoolchildren exposed to violence: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 290(5), 603-611. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.290.5.603

This study received a low rating because baseline equivalence of the intervention and comparison groups was necessary and not demonstrated.


Studies Not Eligible for Review

Study 13150

Auslander, W., McGinnis, H., Tlapek, S., Smith, P., Foster, A., Edmond, T., & Dunn, J. (2017). Adaptation and implementation of a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral intervention for girls in child welfare. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(3), 206-215. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000233

This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).

Study 13151

Auslander, W., Edmond, T., Foster, A., Smith, P., McGinnis, H., Gerke, D., Tlapek, S., Threlfall, J., Voth Schrag, R., Dunn, J., & Jonson-Reid, M. (2020). Cognitive behavioral intervention for trauma in adolescent girls in child welfare: A randomized controlled trial. Children and Youth Services Review, 119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105602

This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).

Study 13152

Jaycox, L. H., Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., Walker, D. W., Langley, A. K., Gegenheimer, K. L., Scott, M., & Schonlau, M. (2010). Children's mental health care following Hurricane Katrina: A field trial of trauma‐focused psychotherapies. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(2), 223-231. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20518

Cohen, J. A., Jaycox, L. H., Walker, D. W., Mannarino, A. P., Langley, A. K., & DuClos, J. L. (2009). Treating traumatized children after Hurricane Katrina: Project Fleur-de-lis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 12(1), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-009-0039-2 

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 13153

Allison, A. C., & Ferreira, R. J. (2017). Implementing Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) with Latino youth. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 34(2), 181-189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-016-0486-9

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 13154

Goodkind, J. R., Lanoue, M. D., & Milford, J. (2010). Adaptation and implementation of Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools with American Indian youth. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 39(6), 858-872. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2010.517166

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 13155

Howard, J., Domingues, J., Kirmayer, L., & Mintzer, A. (2016). Disseminating trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral intervention in New York City public schools. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 55(10S), S357-S357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2016.07.113

This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).

Study 13158

Kataoka, S., Jaycox, L. H., Wong, M., Nadeem, E., Langley, A., Tang, L., & Stein, B. D. (2011). Effects on school outcomes in low-income minority youth: Preliminary findings from a community-partnered study of a school-based trauma intervention. Ethnicity & Disease, 21(3 Suppl. 1), S1-71-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3287975/pdf/nihms-353079.pdf

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 13160

Jaycox, L. H., Langley, A. K., Dean, K. L., Stein, B. D., Wong, M., Sharma, P., Scott, M. M., Schonlau, M., & Kataoka, S. H. (2009). Making it easier for school staff to help traumatized students. RAND Corporation. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9443-1.html

This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).

Study 13161

Mendelson, T., Tandon, S. D., O'Brennan, L., Leaf, P. J., & Ialongo, N. S. (2015). Moving prevention into schools: The impact of a trauma-informed school-based intervention. Journal of Adolescence, 43(1), 142-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.05.017

This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.6).

Study 13162

Morsette, A., Swaney, G., Stolle, D., Schuldberg, D., van den Pol, R., & Young, M. (2009). Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS): School-based treatment on a rural American Indian reservation. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 40(1), 169-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2008.07.006

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 13163

Morsette, A., van den Pol, R., Schuldberg, D., Swaney, G., & Stolle, D. (2012). Cognitive behavioral treatment for trauma symptoms in American Indian youth: Preliminary findings and issues in evidence-based practice and reservation culture. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion, 5(1), 51-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/1754730X.2012.664865

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 13164

Ngo, V., Langley, A., Kataoka, S. H., Nadeem, E., Escudero, P., & Stein, B. D. (2008). Providing evidence-based practice to ethnically diverse youths: Examples from the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) program. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(8), 858-862. https://doi.org/10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181799f19

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 13166

Santiago, C. D., Lennon, J. M., Fuller, A. K., Brewer, S. K., & Kataoka, S. H. (2014). Examining the impact of a family treatment component for CBITS: When and for whom is it helpful? Journal of Family Psychology, 28(4), 560-570. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037329

Santiago, C. D., Fuller, A. K., Lennon, J. M., & Kataoka, S. H. (2016). Parent perspectives from participating in a family component for CBITS: Acceptability of a culturally informed school-based program. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 8(3), 325-333. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000076

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).

Study 13167

Santiago, C. D., Kataoka, S. H., Hu-Cordova, M., Alvarado-Goldberg, K., Maher, L. M., & Escudero, P. (2015). Preliminary evaluation of a family treatment component to augment a school-based intervention serving low-income families. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 23(1), 28-39. https://doi.org/10.1177/1063426613503497

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible design (Study Eligibility Criterion 4.1.4).