Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS): A Study With Pakistani Adolescents

NCT07768540 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: DERB-PSY-2024-011
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate whether a school-based counseling program, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), helps reduce trauma-related symptoms and improve psychological functioning in adolescents in Pakistan who have experienced traumatic events. Students will first be screened to identify those with trauma exposure and related symptoms. Eligible students will receive the CBITS program, delivered at their school by the researcher. Researcher will measure changes in trauma-related symptoms and other psychological outcomes before and after the intervention to determine whether the program is effective for this population.

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms; Psychological Distress; Trauma Exposure

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen 2 (Cats-2) Self-Report (7-17 Years)

  The Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen 2 (CATS-2) Self-Report (7-17 Years) is used to assess trauma-related symptoms. Possible scores range from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating more posttraumatic stress symptoms

  Baseline and 10 weeks

• Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - Youth Version (DASS-Y)

  The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - Youth Version (DASS-Y) was used to assess psychological distress, with possible scores ranging from 0 to 63, where higher scores indicate greater psychological distress

  Baseline and 10 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Children's Post-Traumatic Cognitions Inventory (CPTCI-S)

  Baseline and 10 weeks

• The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form (DERS-SF)

  Baseline and 10 weeks

• Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)

  Baseline and 10 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group (receiving CBITS)

EXPERIMENTAL

Students in this group will receive the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools, during the school hours

Behavioral: cognitive behavioral intervention for trauma in schools

Control Group (waitlist control group)

NO INTERVENTION

Students in this group will follow their regular school routine without any changes.

Interventions

cognitive behavioral intervention for trauma in schools BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the intervention group will receive Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), a manualized, school-based group therapy program for adolescents with trauma-related symptoms. The program includes approximately 10 group sessions (45-60 minutes) covering psychoeducation, relaxation training, cognitive restructuring, trauma narrative development, and social problem-solving. Individual sessions may be included to support the trauma narrative component.

Intervention Group (receiving CBITS)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 10 Years - 16 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Students who are 10-16 years of age, have experienced at least one trauma.

You may not qualify if:

• Students who have sexual abuse as only traumatic event

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National University of Modern Languages: lead

Study Sites (1)

National University Of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad

Islamabad, Pakistan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Schools

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Non-Medical Public and Private Facilities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctoral Researcher & Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 11, 2026
• First Posted: August 17, 2026
• Study Start: December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2027
• Last Updated: August 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)