Empirical and Clinical Focus of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Research

The present study evaluated the characteristics of research on child and adolescent psychotherapy. Published studies (N = 223) of psychotherapy from 1970 to 1988 were codified to characterize research, clinical, and methodological characteristics. The major results indicate that (a) treatment research focuses almost exclusively on the impact of treatment techniques with scant attention to influences (child/adolescent, parent, family, therapist) that may moderate outcome and (b) several characteristics of the children/adolescents and methods of treatment delivery and approaches depart markedly from those evident in the practice of treatment. Priorities for treatment research to place clinical practice on firmer empirical footing are discussed.