Abstract
This paper presents the problematic features of making decisions related to the assessment and treatment of children, highlighting the importance of the diagnostic procedure in determining the need and type of therapy. Difficulties in assessing children are discussed in terms of the reliability of assessors, evaluation techniques, information sources, and children's functioning in different settings. Unique, complicating childhood characteristics are depicted: most disorders' normative basis in children's development; rapid, continuous change; gaps between cognitive, affective, behavioral, and chronological developmental stages; and high spontaneous recovery rates. Within an emphasis on the therapist's need for self-awareness and flexibility of child assessment and treatment methods, decision-making guidelines to evaluate the need for therapy are suggested and case examples are provided.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kazdin AE:Child Psychotherapy: Developing and Identifying Effective Treatments. New York: Pergamon Press, 1988.
Marks I:Fears, Phobias and Rituals. Oxford: University Press, 1987.
Mathews AM, Gelder MG, Johnston DW:Agoraphobia: Nature and Treatment. New York: Guilford, 1981.
Ost LG, Salkovskis PM, Hellstrom K: One-session therapist-directed exposure vs. self-exposure in the treatment of spider phobia.Behav Thpy 22:407–422, 1991.
Garfield SL: Effectiveness of psychotherapy: The perennial controversy.Prof Psych 14:35–43, 1983.
Kazdin AE:Single-Case Research Design: Methods for Clinical and Applied Setting, New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.
Kazdin AE: The evaluation of psychotherapy: Research design and methodology. InHandbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change, 3rd Ed., eds. Garfield SL, Bergin, AE. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1986.
Sheldon B: Implementing findings from social work effectivesess research.Brit J Soc Wk 17:573–586, 1987.
Stein J, Gambrill E: Facilitating decision making in foster care.Soc Servc Rev 51:502–511, 1977.
Reid W:The Task Centered System, New York: Columbia University Press, 1978.
Stuart RB, Tripodi T: Experimental evaluation of three time constrained behavioural treatment for pre-delinquents. InAdvances in Behavior Therapy, ed. Rubin RD. City: Publisher, 1973.
Rachman SJ, Wilson GT:The Effects of Psychological Therapy, Oxford: Pergamon, 1980.
Hughess JN:Cognitive Behavior Therapy with Children in Schools, New York: Pergamon, 1988.
Mash EJ, Terdal LG: Behavioral assessment of child and family disturbance. InBehavioral Assessment of Childhood Disorders, eds. Mash, EJ, Terdal LG. New York: Guilford Press, 1988.
Rosenbaum M, Ronen T: Children and parents under the threat of missile attacks: Do they see eye to eye each other's fears and behaviors. A paper presented at the AABT, New York: 1991.
Belter RW, Dunn SE, Jeney P: The psychological impact of Hurricane Hugo on children: A needs assessment.Advance of Behav Res Thpy 13:155–161, 1991.
Reid JB, Kavanagh K, Baldwin D: Abusive parents' perceptions of child problem behaviors: An example of parental bias.J Abn Child Psych 15:457–466, 1987.
Angold A, Weissman M, Merikangas JK, Prusoff B, Wickramaratne P, Gammon G, Warner B: Parent and child reports of depressive symptoms in children at low and high risk of depression.J of Child Psych and Psychiat 28:901–915, 1987.
Hodges K, Gordon Y, Lennon MP: Parent-child agreement on symptoms assessed via clinical research interview for children: The child assessment schedule (CAS).J Child Psychiat 31:427–436, 1990.
Ronen T, Rahav G: A comparison of teachers and parents evaluation of second and sixth grade children. Unpublished manuscript, Tel-Aviv University.
Goldman J, L'Engle Stein C, Guerry S:Psychological Methods of Child Assessment. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1983.
Gelfand DM, Hartman DP:Child Behavior Analysis and Therapy, New York: Pergamon, 1984.
Hartman DP, Wood DD: Observational methods. InInternational Handbook of Behavior Modification and Therapy, eds. Pollack AS, Hersen M, Kazdin AE, New York: Plenum, 1982.
Mash EJ, Terdal LG: Behavior therapy assessment: Diagnosis, design, and evaluation. InBehavior Therapy Assessment, eds. Mash EJ, Terdal LG, New York: Springer, 1976.
Lapouse R, Monk MA: An epidemiologic study of behavior characteristics in children.Am J Pub Health 48:1134–1144, 1958.
Barrios BA, Hartman DF: Fears and anxieties. InBehavioral Assessment of Childhood Disorders, eds. Mash EJ, Terdal LG. New York: Guilford Press, 1988.
Morris RJ, Kratochwill TR:Treating Children's Fears and Phobias: A Behavioral Approach, New York: Pergamon Press, 1983.
Wolman BB:Children's Fears, Tel-Aviv: Zmora Bitan, Modan, 1982.
Kessler J:Psychopathology of Childhood. NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1966.
Schaffer HR:Making Decisions About Children: Psychology Questions and Answers. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1990.
Levitt EE: Psychotherapy with children: A further evaluation.Behav Res and Thpy 60:326–329, 1963.
Sahler OJZ, McAnarney ER:The Child from Three to Eighteen. London: Mosby, 1981.
Kendall PC, Braswell L:Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Impulsive Children. New York: Guilford, 1985.
Eysenck HJ: The effect of psychotherapy: An evaluation.J Consult Psych 16:319–324, 1952.
Levitt EE: The results of psychotherapy with children: An evaluation.J Consult Psych 21:189–196, 1957.
American Psychiatric Association:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-III-R, 3rd Ed. Washington, DC: Author, 1987.
Achenbach TM:Assessment and Taxonomy of Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. Beverly Hills.
Ronen T:The way to self-control Ramat-Gan: Keshet (Hebrew).
Ronen T: Cognitive therapy with young children.J Child Psyc and Hum Develop, 23:19–30, 1992.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ronen, T. Decision making about children's therapy. Child Psych Hum Dev 23, 259–272 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707679
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707679