A NATURALISTIC STUDY OF PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC METHODS AND CLIENT IN-THERAPY FUNCTIONING IN A CHILD COMMUNITY SETTING

Utilized a naturalistic methodology to examine treatment responses ass ociated with major psychotherapeutic methods in 150 youth aged II to 1 7 years old in a community mental health center. Treatment methods wer e not experimentally controlled but were measured retrospectively by t herapist report. Treatment response was assessed by a composite of 6 m easures completed by clients, parents, and therapists, Pretest/posttes t 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 positive ly associated with extent of use of cognitive therapy. Social skills t raining, behavior therapy, and family systems therapy were associated with more positive treatment response in some subgroups of clients. Th e number of approaches used in an individual case (technical eclectici sm) 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.