It is only relatively recently that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has
been recognised in children. Controlled treatment outcome studies of
childhood PTSD are scarce, but those that exist indicate that Cognitive
Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an effective intervention. In this article, we
briefly describe PTSD in children and outline some behavioural and
cognitive models of the disorder. Derived from these models, prolonged
therapeutic exposure and cognitive restructuring as part of a CBT package
are then described. In practice, effective therapy will include more than
exposure-based work, and additional procedures, including work with
parents, are highlighted. While CBT is the treatment of choice of PTSD in
childhood, there is an urgent need for further treatment outcome studies.