Randomized Trial of Tele Vs. Clinic TF-CBT in Puerto Rico

April 20, 2026 updated by: Regan Stewart, Medical University of South Carolina

Addressing Barriers to Care Among Underserved Youth: Telehealth Delivery of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - A Randomized Effectiveness-Implementation Trial

The current study will evaluate TF-CBT delivered via tele-health for youth presenting with trauma symptoms via a randomized controlled trial. Goals of the current study are to examine the effectiveness of Tele-TF-CBT delivered by community providers in Puerto Rico in improving youth trauma outcomes. Goals are also to support the feasibility, acceptability, and engagement outcomes of Tele-health delivery.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The current study will use a randomized controlled trial to examine telehealth delivery of Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for youth with trauma symptoms receiving care in community based clinics in Puerto Rico. First, the effectiveness of Tele-TF-CBT in improving trauma symptoms will be examined compared with clinic-based TF-CBT. Next, the feasibility, acceptability, and engagement outcomes of Tele-TF-CBT will be examined in this population. Lastly, implementation factors will be explored.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
80

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • South Carolina
      • Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
        • Recruiting
        • Medical University of South Carolina
        • Contact:
          • Regan Stewart, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 7-18 years old
  • experienced at least one traumatic event
  • present with clinically significant levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms

Exclusion Criteria:

  • significant suicidal ideation
  • substance use disorder
  • active psychotic symptoms
  • pervasive developmental delays,
  • currently living with or in close contact with the perpetrator of their abuse

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Tele-TF-CBT
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy delivered via telehealth
Behavioral: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT; Cohen et al., 2017) is an evidence-based, manualized treatment protocol designed to treat posttraumatic stress and co-occurring symptoms such as depression and anxiety in trauma-exposed children and youth and their supportive and non-offending caregivers. TF-CBT is divided into nine cognitive and behavioral components, all of which incorporate gradual exposure to trauma memories and reminders
Active Comparator: Clinic-TF-CBT
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy delivered in clinic (in-person)
Behavioral: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT; Cohen et al., 2017) is an evidence-based, manualized treatment protocol designed to treat posttraumatic stress and co-occurring symptoms such as depression and anxiety in trauma-exposed children and youth and their supportive and non-offending caregivers. TF-CBT is divided into nine cognitive and behavioral components, all of which incorporate gradual exposure to trauma memories and reminders

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Traumatic Stress Symptoms
Time Frame: baseline, post-treatment (2-weeks of completing treatment), 3-month follow-up (within 3 months of post-treatment assessment)
Parent and youth rated trauma symptoms will be measured via the Child Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Scale. Scores range from 0 to 80 with higher scores indicating higher levels of post traumatic stress.
baseline, post-treatment (2-weeks of completing treatment), 3-month follow-up (within 3 months of post-treatment assessment)
Traumatic Stress Symptoms
Time Frame: baseline, post-treatment (2-weeks of completing treatment), 3-month follow-up (within 3 months of post-treatment assessment)
Parent and youth rated trauma symptoms will be measured via the the UCLA Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index Interview. Scores range from 0 to 80 with higher scores indicating higher levels of post traumatic stress.
baseline, post-treatment (2-weeks of completing treatment), 3-month follow-up (within 3 months of post-treatment assessment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Anxiety and Depression Symptoms
Time Frame: baseline, post-treatment, 3-month follow-up
Parent and youth rated anxiety and depression symptoms will be measured via the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale Short form.Scores range from 0 to 75 with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety and depression.
baseline, post-treatment, 3-month follow-up
Anxiety and Depression Symptoms
Time Frame: baseline, post-treatment (2-weeks of completing treatment), 3-month follow-up (within 3 months of post-treatment assessment)
Parent and youth rated anxiety and depression symptoms will be measured via the Pediatric Symptom Checklist. Scores range from 0 to 70 with higher scores indicating higher levels of impairments.
baseline, post-treatment (2-weeks of completing treatment), 3-month follow-up (within 3 months of post-treatment assessment)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Medical University of South Carolina

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 12, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 18, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 27, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 20, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Pro00135303
  • U66RH31458 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Telehealth Center of Excellence)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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