APPLYING THE CRITERIA FOR EMPIRICALLY SUPPORTED TREATMENTS TO STUDIESOF PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION

Reviews the psychosocial treatment outcome studies for depressed child ren and adolescents and concludes that psychosocial interventions are effective at posttreatment and follow-up in reducing depressive sympto ms/disorders in clinical and nonclinical samples of youth, regardless of treatment modality or extent of parental involvement. The article t hen examines the extent to which each study conforms to the guidelines set forth by the Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychol ogical Procedures (1996) for well-established and probably efficacious interventions. Results of this analysis indicate only 2 series of stu dies that meet criteria for probably efficacious interventions and no studies that meet criteria for well-established treatments. Finally, t he advantages and disadvantages of applying criteria for empirically s upported treatments to identify good treatments for depressed youth ar e discussed, the importance of devising developmentally and culturally sensitive interventions targeted to the unique needs of each child is high lighted, and recommendations for future research that is informe d by clinical practice and empirical findings are offered.