The outcome of psychotherapy with children.

Examined 75 studies, published between 1952 and 1983, in which children who received psychotherapy were compared with controls or children receiving another form of treatment. Only those studies using Ss younger than a mean age of 13 yrs at the time of treatment were included. Exceptions to the age limitation were made only if separate analyses for younger children were reported or if individual data from older Ss could be eliminated. Results show that therapy with children was similar in effectiveness to therapy with adults; treated children achieved outcomes about two-thirds of a standard deviation better than untreated children. Although behavioral treatments appeared to be more effective than nonbehavioral treatments, this apparent superiority was due largely to the types of outcome and target problems included in behavioral studies. No differences in outcome were found to result from other treatment characteristics such as the use of play in therapy or the administration of treatment individually or in groups. The evidence suggests that previous doubts about the overall efficacy of psychotherapy with children can be laid to rest. A bibliography of the studies examined is appended. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)