A naturalistic study of psychotherapeutic methods and client in-therapy functioning in a child community setting

Utilized a naturalistic methodology to examine treatment responses associated with major psychotherapeutic methods in 150 youth aged 11 to 17 years old in a community mental health center. Treatment methods were not experimentally controlled but were measured retrospectively by therapist report. Treatment response was assessed by a composite of 6 measures completed by clients, parents, and therapists. Pretest/posttest comparisons indicated improved functioning in the sample as a whole. Treatment response was not related to the proportion of therapy using individual, family, or group modalities. Therapy response was positively associated with extent of use of cognitive therapy. Social skills training, behavior therapy, and family systems therapy were associated with more positive treatment response in some subgroups of clients. The number of approaches used in an individual case (technical eclecticism) was positively related to client response. Treatment response was more consistently related to level of client and parent functioning in therapy than to treatment method.