A REVIEW OF PSYCHOTHERAPY OUTCOME RESEARCH: CONSIDERATIONS FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS

Evaluating psychotherapeutic outcome is an important endeavor given psychology's focus on identifying effective treatments. There is ample evidence to suggest that psychotherapy interventions for children and adolescents are effective. Unfortunately, the child and adolescent psychotherapy outcome literature lags behind the adult-focused outcome literature in some important areas, as children and adolescents are often viewed as extensions of adults. This review analyzes the pertinent youth meta-analyses, examining treatment, client, and therapist variables relevant to positive outcomes. We also consider the impact of variables that have received more attention in the adult psychotherapy outcome literature (i.e., the therapeutic alliance, therapist effects, and allegiance effects) and their possible impact on child and adolescent outcomes. Our hope is that this discussion benefits school-based mental health professionals when discerning what works best with the youth population. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.