Psychosocial treatment research with children and adolescents: methodological issues.

Psychotherapy research with children is based mainly on adult methodologies. Common issues include bias in recruitment of subjects, demographics, developmental concerns, and control group considerations. The advantages and drawbacks of various types of control groups, such as wait-list controls, and placebo conditions are discussed along with ethical issues. Instrument choice, validity and reliability, and standardization of procedures in conducting research are addressed. Finally, the therapist as a variable is reviewed, including selection and assignment of therapists, and therapist bias.