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Traumatic life events can result in severe psychiatric conditions among which posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most prevalent. Due to high comorbidity with other psychiatric diagnoses, PTSD treatment is challenging. In older adults, the presentation of PTSD symptoms is especially complicated because of even higher comorbidity, higher rates with other mental disorders, and cognitive and somatic conditions. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based treatment for trauma in younger adults. There is limited empirical research on the treatment effects of EMDR in older adults. Moreover, the impact of successful EMDR treatment on the comorbid disorders, especially personality and cognitive dysfunctions, is unclear. In this case report, EMDR treatment effects for late-onset PTSD with comorbid borderline and avoidant personality disorders, as well as cognitive disorders and multiple somatic problems, will be presented in an older woman.

Although many parenting interventions have been shown efficacious in reducing externalizing behavior problems in young children, they often take months to implement and tend to target children with moderate to severe behavior problems. Parent–Child Care (PC-CARE) was designed to be an engaging, brief (six-session) dyadic intervention to reduce mental health symptoms even for children with few behavior problems and/or parents who are unable to commit to lengthy treatments. We present an evidence-based case study of a 5-year-old child with mild externalizing problems and his biological parents, who participated in PC-CARE. Standardized measures were collected, and the child’s and parents’ emotional availability were assessed at pre- and posttreatment. Weekly codings of parent–child interactions and parent-reported measures of child behaviors were also collected. This child’s behavioral symptoms improved from pre- to posttreatment (per parents’ reports and observation), and he maintained this improved behavior 1 month after treatment. The parents similarly demonstrated improvement in their use of parenting skills and emotional availability. Aspects of treatment that may affect effectiveness are discussed.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-wave behavioral therapy that is an empirically supported treatment for various mental health concerns. ACT has been found to be efficacious for treating different types of anxiety disorders. This case study presents the conceptualization (functional analysis), treatment (ACT), and treatment outcomes of a client who presented with emetophobia, a phobia of vomiting, complicated by a metabolic disorder. Measures of emetophobia symptoms, mindfulness, cognitive fusion, thought control strategies, and believability of anxious thoughts and feelings, were collected at pretreatment, posttreatment, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. The Reliable Change Index was used to evaluate changes across time. Large and clinically significant decreases on all measures were observed at posttreatment. At 12-month follow-up, improvements were maintained on all measures except the Reappraisal subscale of the Thought Control scale. The implications of this study are discussed, and recommendations are made for clinicians using ACT for the treatment of emetophobia.

This case study follows a 6-year old Caucasian Hispanic male who presented with symptoms of Tourette’s disorder and separation anxiety disorder. Given the young age of the child, a critical focus was placed on parental involvement and parental mastery of the treatment components within an attachment-focused conceptualization as the foundation for all treatment delivery. To address all issues presented by the family of this young child, a behavioral treatment was utilized to target symptoms of Tourette’s disorder, and components of cognitive-behavioral therapy were used to address symptoms associated with separation anxiety disorder (in the young child). Further, components of an attachment-based parenting program, Circle of Security–Parenting, were inserted throughout treatment to keep this young child’s parents in tune with their relationship with their young child. Following completion of treatment, this young child displayed significant decreases in his symptoms across both disorders. Further, this young child and his parents demonstrated a mastery of treatment concepts and coping skills. The family reported both qualitative and quantitative improvements in the young child’s overall emotional and behavioral functioning. This study displayed the effectiveness of an integrative family-based approach in the treatment of a young child with symptoms of both Tourette’s disorder and separation anxiety disorder.

There are few proven effective treatments such as Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for use with deaf parents and their children, even though it is likely that the prevalence rate for disruptive behavior problems including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) are similar to those reported for all U.S. children. Medication and behavioral therapy involving parents comprise the cornerstone for ADHD/ODD management, with PCIT endorsed as one of the most effective interventions available for children aged 2 to 7 years. This case study presents the implementation of PCIT with deaf parents and their 7-year-old hearing son with ADHD/ODD, with the help of a certified interpreter and readily available video technology. Findings from this case report documented PCIT as a promising treatment option for use with individuals who are deaf.

This case study reports on the use of a developmentally sensitive behavioral treatment program for a 4-year-old Korean girl diagnosed with selective mutism. Multi-method assessment, consisting of parent and teacher reports, as well as school and home-video observation, confirmed the diagnosis. Behavioral therapy was administered with an emphasis on behavioral reinforcement strategies that were adapted for the child’s developmental level. After 17 sessions, the child evidenced a notable reduction in selective mutism symptoms, evidenced by clinician and school observation. Furthermore, she indicated a decrease in symptoms of withdrawal based on teacher report. This case study demonstrates how behavioral treatment strategies emphasizing behavioral reinforcement techniques can be applied in developmentally appropriate ways to treat young, bilingual children with selective mutism.