Trauma Care: Teaching Recovery Technique (TRT) to Children and Adolescent Refugees: A Systematic Review on Effectiveness

Traumatic experiences are a predictor of ill mental health, in particular posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. The Children and War Foundation has developed a trauma-focused cognitive behavioural programme (TF-CBT) – the Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) – a group intervention for children and adolescents exposed to war, violence, and displacement. This article aims to review and synthesise the current evidence on the effectiveness of TRT programmes. A systematic review of published studies (RCTs and case series) was conducted based on a systematic search in three databases (Medline via Pubmed, INAHTA, Cochrane Library). Eleven studies were identified: seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and four before–after case series, with 3,149 participants. Across studies, TRT was found to reduce PTSD symptoms, with CRIES-8 or CRIES-13 scores improving between 3- and 14 points post-intervention, and up to 12 points at follow-up (3–6 months). Evidence for reductions in psychological distress and depressive symptoms (measured via SDQ and DSRS) was less consistent. The risk of bias was low to moderate in the studies. The results show consistent effects across studies. The evidence supports the TRT programme as an effective, scalable, and low-cost intervention for reducing trauma symptoms among refugee children and adolescents. Future research should aim to strengthen the evidence base with longer-term outcomes, explore moderators of effect, and enhance inclusion of underrepresented groups such as girls.