Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Outcome of cognitive behavioral therapy in adolescents after natural disaster
Mitra Hakim Shooshtary1, Laily Panaghi, Jafar Attari Moghadam
1Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Institute of Psychiatry (Mental Health Research Center), Tehran, Iran. hakimshooshtary@tehranpi.org
Purpose:
The authors evaluated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) among adolescents exposed to the 2004 earthquake in Bam, Iran.
Methods:
Four months after the earthquake, 135 adolescents as a case group and 33 adolescents as a comparison group were evaluated with the Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R). Two therapists were trained in CBT in 3-day classes according to a manual provided by mental health services. After conducting CBT in the case group, both groups were evaluated again with IES-R.
Results:
The severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms significantly decreased among the subjects given CBT in the case group. The improvement in posttraumatic stress symptoms was attributable to improvement in each of three-symptom categories (intrusion, avoidance, and arousal) and in the total score of posttraumatic stress disorder (p < .05).
Conclusions:
The findings demonstrate the efficacy of CBT in alleviating posttraumatic stress symptoms among adolescents after a catastrophic disaster.
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Therapy
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Behavior Therapy
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Cognitive Development During Adolescence