[Evaluated treatment approaches in child and adolescent psychiatry I].

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The principle of evidence-based medicine is to integrate data concerning the efficacy of interventions into clinical practice. This article assesses the level of evaluation of psychosocial, psychopharmacological and combined interventions for mental disorders in childhood and adolescence (autistic disorders, hyperkinetic disorders, conduct disorders, tic disorders, enuresis, and encopresis).

METHODS:

Three different levels of evaluation were defined for both psychosocial and psychopharmacological interventions: A (> or = 2 randomized controlled studies), B (1 randomized controlled study), and C (open studies and case studies). The level of evaluation was judged on the basis of original papers found in a comprehensive literature search.

RESULTS:

For most disorders presented in this article there are several A-level treatments. The efficacy of both psychosocial and psychopharmacological interventions that target specific problem behaviors or symptoms, respectively, has been repeatedly demonstrated with regard to autistic disorders. Many studies have evaluated treatment approaches for hyperkinetic disorders and conduct disorders. With regard to the treatment of tic disorders in children and adolescents, far more studies evaluated the efficacy of pharmacotherapy than of psychotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

Further research should compare the efficacy of different treatment approaches, examine specific and differential treatment effects and investigate combined treatment approaches.

• Authors: L Baving, M H Schmidt
• Journal: Zeitschrift fur Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie (Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 189-205 (Aug 2001) ISSN: 1422-4917 [Print] Switzerland
• Vernacular Title: Evaluierte Behandlungsansätze in der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie I.
• PMID: 11524896 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Psychotropic Drugs

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Evaluation Studies as Topic
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Mental Disorders (diagnosis, psychology, therapy)
• Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
• Psychotherapy (methods)
• Psychotropic Drugs (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic