Meta‐Analysis of Culturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD Symptomatology

ABSTRACT The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to examine whether culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy (CA‐CBT) is effective in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms compared to both waitlist control and alternative treatments, as well as explore study and sample characteristics associated with treatment outcomes. Nineteen between‐groups studies ( n = 2049) were analyzed using separate random effects models, which revealed large significant effect sizes favoring CA‐CBT over waitlist control ( g = −2.25; CI95 = −3.26, −1.24; PI95 = −6.02, 1.52) and alternative treatment conditions ( g = −0.98; CI95 = −1.34, −0.63; PI95 = −2.13, 0.17). Adaptation quantity emerged as a significant moderator in both meta‐regression models; however, the direction of the impact differed between comparison conditions. These results may suggest that adaptation quality, rather than quantity, plays a key role in trauma treatment outcomes. Considerations for culturally adapting CBT for trauma treatment are discussed.