The effectiveness of psychotherapy for children and adolescents

Abstract

An overview is provided of the methodological problems and empirical findings in research on the effectiveness of psychotherapy in childhood and adolescence. Key differences from adult psychotherapy are highlighted. Global meta-analyses demonstrate the effectiveness particularly of cognitive-behavioral approaches and indicate that child and adolescent psychotherapy achieves effects comparable to those of adult psychotherapy. In the treatment of depression, phobias and anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, oppositional/aggressive disorders, and elimination disorders, certain cognitive-behavioral interventions can be classified as evidence-based.