Effectiveness of psychotherapy with children and adolescents: A meta-analysis for clinicians.

TLDR

The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of psychotherapy for children and adolescents. The authors conducted a meta‑analysis of 108 rigorously designed outcome studies involving 4‑ to 18‑year‑old participants. The meta‑analysis found significant, durable improvements: treated youths were better adjusted than 79 % of untreated peers, behavioral approaches outperformed non‑behavioral ones, and therapist type and client age influenced effectiveness—children benefited more than adolescents, paraprofessionals were especially effective, and professionals excelled in treating overcontrolled problems but not undercontrolled ones.

Abstract

How effective is psychotherapy with children and adolescents? The question was addressed by metaanalysis of 108 well-designed outcome studies with 4-18-year-old participants. Across various outcome measures, the average treated youngster was better adjusted after treatment than 79% of those not treated. Therapy proved rnore effective for children than for adolescents, particularly when the therapists were paraprofessionals (e.g., parents, teachers) or graduate students. Professionals (with doctor's or master's degrees) were especially effective in treating overcontrolled problems (e.g., phobias, shyness) but were not more effective than other therapists in treating undercontrolled problems (e.g., aggression, impulsivity). Behavioral treatments proved more effective than nonbehavioral treatments regardless of client age, therapist experience, or treated problem. Overall, the findings revealed significant, durable effects of treatment that differed somewhat with client age and treatment method but were reliably greater than zero for most groups, most problems, and most methods.