BEST FOR CAN : bringing empirically supported treatments to children and adolescents after child abuse and neglect: update to the study protocol

Kurzfassung/Abstract

Background
The implementation trial BESTFORCAN aims to evaluate the dissemination of Trauma-Focused Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) for children and adolescents in Germany with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) after child abuse and neglect (CAN) with a focus onsupervision.

Objective
This update to the study protocol outlines changes made due to practical reasons inthe course of the ongoing trial while maintaining methodological quality.

Method
The amendments to the original study protocol comprise (1) a more refined operationalisation of the primary outcome sufficiently adherent TF-CBT therapy (SATT), (2)changes in the study sites and (3) additional inclusion of one post-gradual psychotherapy training institute.

Discussion
The adaptions to the original study protocol ensured high methodological quality through the transparent presentation of protocol modification: ensuring the recruitment of participating psychotherapists in training by including a further post-gradual training institute as well as an adaption of the measurement of SATT with high external validity. The objectives, diagnostic set, and secondary outcomes remained unimpaired by the amendment. Therefore, we expect the trial to provide evidence for the effect of model-specific trauma-focused supervision on the implementation outcomes of TF-CBT ascompared to supervision as usual.