JMIR formative research
App-Based Stabilization Phase Within Blended Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Compassion for Adolescents With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Formative Qualitative Study
By Wallin L, Nilsson N and Dennhag I.
Abstract
Background
Digital tools may support early phases of trauma therapy for adolescents, yet little is known about how an app-based stabilization phase functions in routine child and adolescent psychiatry clinics. To our knowledge, no previous study has qualitatively examined a compassion-integrated, app-based stabilization phase delivered before trauma processing within trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for adolescents.
Objective
This formative qualitative pretrial study explored the acceptability, feasibility, and contextual fit of an app-based stabilization phase within blended TF-CBT with compassion (bTF-CBT-C) for adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim was to inform the refinement of intervention content, caregiver support, and clinical workflow prior to a planned pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT).