@article{TEXTUAL, recid = {8918}, author = {Bhatt, Monica P. and Guryan, Jonathan and Pollack, Harold A. and Castrejon, Juan C. and Clark, Molly and Delgado-Sanchez, Lucia and Lin, Phoebe and Lubell, Max and Poehls, Cristobal Pinto and Shaver, Ben and Sumners, Makenzi}, title = {Randomized evaluation of a school-based, trauma-informed group intervention for young women in Chicago}, journal = {Science Advances}, address = {2023-06-07}, number = {TEXTUAL}, abstract = {This study explores whether a school-based group counseling program for adolescent girls, implemented at scale, can mitigate trauma-related mental health harms. In a randomized trial involving 3749 Chicago public high school girls, we find that participating in the program for 4 months induces a 22% reduction in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and find significant decreases in anxiety and depression. Results surpass widely accepted cost-effectiveness thresholds, with estimated cost-utility well below $150,000 per quality adjusted life year. We find suggestive evidence that effects persist and may even increase over time. Our results provide the first efficacy trial of such a program specifically designed for girls, conducted in America’s third largest city. These findings suggest the promise of school-based programs to mitigate trauma-related harms.}, url = {http://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/8918}, }