A reevaluation of estimates of child therapy effectiveness.

In a recent review of nonbehavioral child and adolescent psychotherapy, it was concluded that the magnitude of methodological flaws in this body of research precluded an evaluation of effectiveness. However, recent quantitative reviews of child and adolescent therapy have concluded that nonbehavioral therapy is relatively ineffective compared with behavioral therapy. A sample of nonbehavioral studies was reviewed to evaluate the adequacy of estimates of effectiveness. Three contributions to inaccurate effect estimation were considered: methodological quality, investigator allegiance effects, and treatment representativeness. It was concluded that all three factors contribute to inaccurate estimates of the effectiveness of child and adolescent psychotherapy. Recommendations for improving child therapy research are considered in light of these revealed problems.