An Outcome Study of Solution-Focused Therapy versus “Treatment-as-Usual” for Behavior Problems in Children

Jacqueline Corcoran
Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
Virginia Commonwealth University
804-828-8179
jcorcora@mail1.vcu.edu
Rationale: Between one-third to one-half of outpatient child clinic referrals involve behavior problems (Kazdin, 1997).  A rationale for the use of solution-focused therapy (e.g., deJong & Berg, 1998) with child behavior problems is provided.  Advantages of the model include a compatibility with social work values, an emphasis on concrete behavior change, and strategies to engage the different client relationships when families present with child behavior problems. Purpose: The effectiveness of solution-focused therapy for children referred from the school setting for behavior problems was tested. A secondary purpose involved the exploration of child and family characteristics predictive of treatment engagement. Method: A quasi-experimental design was employed to compare solution-focused therapy to “treatment-as-usual” from pretest to posttest on child and parent reports of child behavior.  A MANOVA was used to test group and time differences.  Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of treatment engagement.  Findings: Treatment condition (solution-focused therapy) was the only significant predictor of treatment engagement. Although treatment engagement was higher in the solution-focused group, there were no statistically significant differences between the solution-focused therapy and the “treatment-as-usual” group on outcome measures.  Implications for social work research and practice.  Suggestions for clinical research are made, along with discussion about solution-focused therapy and the treatment of child behavior problems.

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