Treatment I: The Basic Techniques

Abstract

In this first chapter devoted to clinical intervention, I focus on several promising treatment approaches that were designed to alter processes that are important in the development of conduct disorders. In keeping with the applied-science orientation to treatment, I also limit the focus to treatments that have been shown in controlled outcome studies to bring about clinically meaningful changes in the adjustment of children and adolescents with conduct disorders. Although the effectiveness of each approach has been tested in controlled outcome studies, the discussion in this chapter focuses primarily on the clinically relevant aspects of the intervention techniques rather than on the results of outcome research (see Kazdin, 1995, for a more detailed discussion of outcome research). However, there are several important findings from the outcome research that have important clinical implications.