Evidence-Based Psychosocial Treatments for Disruptive Behaviors in Children: Update

We reviewed the available evidence on psychosocial treatments for disruptive behaviors in children, as an update to Kaminski and Claussen (2017), focusing on children up to age 12 years. Search strategies, study inclusion, and treatment classification followed the procedures developed by Southam-Gerow and Prinstein (2014). Of the 44 included studies from 2016 to 2021, only 9 impacted previous results, either by increasing the level of evidence (for two treatment families) or documenting evidence for a new treatment family (four new treatment families). All three treatment families classified as Level 1: Well Established are parent-focused and now include Group parent behavior therapy + group child behavior therapy (previously classified as Probably Efficacious), in addition to Group parent behavior therapy and Individual parent behavior therapy with child participation (already classified as Well Established). Fifteen treatment families were classified as Level 2: Probably Efficacious, eight were classified as Level 3: Possibly Efficacious. Given the variability of programs in each treatment family, the evidence is for the overall treatment approach and may not apply to each program with those characteristics. Data were insufficient to examine outcomes in relation to participant characteristics. The information can be used to improve dissemination, implementation, and uptake of effective treatment, and inform research on improving access barriers.