[Behavior therapy in children and adolescents: a utilization study]

Outpatient behavior therapy has been paid for in the Federal Republic of Germany since 1980 as a service of the health insurance system that covers most of the population. This therapeutic approach is used with children, adolescents and adults, but up to now it has played only a minor role in the treatment of psychological and psychiatric problems in children and adolescents. A content analysis of 221 applications for approval of long-term therapy for children or adolescents provided information on sociodemographic data, symptoms, diagnoses, treatment goals and treatment methods. Data were also obtained on the patients' social situation. The analysis suggests that mainly 7- to 11-year-old boys undergo treatment. The number of girls receiving treatment increases during puberty, and during adolescence more girls are treated than boys. Applications for outpatient behavior therapy are predominantly for developmental disorders, hyperkinetic disorders, emotional disorders, phobias, enuresis, adjustment disorders, conduct disorders and eating disorders. The main treatment goals are the development of new behavioral skills and the maintenance of or strengthening of behavior that is incompatible with the symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral methods are frequently used.