Mind-body intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescents: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a potentially disabling condition that can lead to long-term impairments, with a significant proportion of adolescents being affected by trauma. Studies have suggested that trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is an effective treatment for PTSD in adolescents, however, little is known about the relative advantages of different mind-body interventions. The network meta-analysis aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of various mind-body interventions in alleviating PTSD symptoms in adolescents.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WFDSP, and VIP databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of mind-body interventions on PTSD in adolescents were included. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various mind-body intervention therapies using the Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking curve (SUCRA). SUCRA calculates the mean of the cumulative percent area under the curve for each therapy, providing a comprehensive ranking of treatment efficacy. The primary outcomes measured were changes in PTSD symptom scores post-treatment and at follow-ups ranging from 1 to 12 months.

RESULTS

A total of 20 studies involving 5 interventions and 2085 adolescents were included in the analysis. No inconsistencies were found between direct and indirect evidence. TF-CBT consistently demonstrated the most significant effect in reducing PTSD symptoms compared to routine care and no-treatment groups. The ranking of intervention efficacy from highest to lowest was as follows: TF-CBT (SUCRA = 87.3%), meditation, CBT, yoga combined with meditation and mindfulness (SUCRA = 32.3%). Due to limited evidence, the follow-up results for PTSD symptom changes remained inconclusive.

CONCLUSION

Five mind-body interventions were found to be effective in treating PTSD symptoms in adolescents, with TF-CBT emerging as the most effective treatment. Findings suggest that yoga combined with meditation and mindfulness may have promising effects, however, further research is needed to confirm these results due to the limited evidence available.