The effectiveness of one session of therapy using a single-session therapy approach for children and adolescents with mental health problems, Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, Volume 79, Number 2, June 2006 , pp. 215-227(13)
Abstract: This study applied a solution-focused single session therapy (SST) approach to all clients presenting to an urban child and adolescent mental health clinic over 14 months. The effectiveness of a single 2-hour assessment and treatment session in treating mental health problems was investigated using parent, teacher and clinician outcome measures. Teachers reported low levels of psychopathology at intake with no significant change 1 month after treatment. However, using parent and clinician measures, clinical levels of psychopathology were found at intake, with significant improvement 1 month after a single session of treatment. The effect sizes for these improvements measured medium to large, demonstrating observable improvement of clinical significance from the 1 session of SST treatment. Respondents reported 95% satisfaction with service. The study adds weight to the argument that a solution-focused SST approach can be effective for the treatment of children and adolescents with mental health problems. It recommends SST as the initial choice of treatment for these clients.
The effectiveness of single session therapy in child and adolescent mental health. Part 2: An 18-month follow-up study, Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, Volume 81, Number 2, page 143- 156
Design: The study is an 18-month follow-up to a cross-sectional clinical study involving treatment of outpatients at a public mental health clinic, over 14 months. All clients had been administered SST. Measures used were those used in the original study, which had a 1-month post-SST follow-up.
Method: Each client was assessed using the DSMD, CSQ-8 and the frequency and severity of the major presenting problem. Analysis was performed using repeated measures t tests and one-way repeated measures ANOVA.
Results: The study found that the short-term benefits of SST (measured 1-month after therapy) were maintained 18 months after the initial consultation. Delay of treatment (by 6 weeks) did not appear to impact either the short-term or longer-term results. An additional finding was that about 60% of the group made significant clinical improvement after one session of therapy. In the other cases, one or more extra sessions were provided to consolidate change or maintain improvements.
Conclusions: The previously demonstrated short-term benefits of SST, for children and adolescents with a range of mental health problems, were shown to be maintained over an 18-month period. However, some clients may benefit from booster sessions. Overall, SST appears to be an empirically supported, cost effective, and beneficial form of therapy for children and adolescents with mental health problems.
Filed under: CAMHS | Tagged: adolescents, CAMHS, children, effectiveness, follow up study, mental health, single session therapy, sst, study, treatment
