Systemische Familientherapie bei Störungen des Kindes- und Jugendalters. Eine Metainhaltsanalyse von 47 randomisierten Primärstudien

The efficacy of systemic therapy for childhood and adolescent externalizing disorders: a systematic review of 47 RCT

Systemic (family) therapy is a widely used psychotherapy approach. However, most systematic efficacy reviews have focused solely on "family-based treatment" rather than on the theoretic orientation "systemic therapy." We systematically review trials on the efficacy of systemic therapy for the treatment of childhood and adolescent externalizing disorders. All randomized (or matched) controlled trials (RCT) evaluating systemic/systems-oriented therapy in various forms (family, individual, group, multi-family group therapy) with child or adolescent index patients (0-17 years) suffering from mental disorders were identified by data base searches and cross-references. Inclusion criteria were as follows: index patient diagnosed with a DSM- or ICD-listed mental disorder, and trial published in any language up to the end of 2011. The RCTs were analyzed for their research methodology, interventions applied, and results (postintervention; follow-up). A total of 47 trials from the United States, Europe, and China, published in English, German, and Mandarin, were identified. A total of 42 of them showed systemic therapy to be efficacious for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, conduct disorders, and substance use disorders. Results were stable across follow-up periods of up to 14 years. There is a sound evidence base for the efficacy of systemic therapy for children and adolescents (and their families) diagnosed with externalizing disorders.

The efficacy of systemic therapy for internalizing and other disorders of childhood and adolescence: a systematic review of 38 randomized trials

Systemic therapy (ST) is one of the most widely applied psychotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of children and adolescents, yet few systematic reviews exist on the efficacy of ST with this age group. Parallel to a similar study on adults, a systematic review was performed to analyze the efficacy of ST in the treatment of children and adolescents. All randomized or matched controlled trials (RCT) evaluating ST in any setting with child and adolescent index patients were identified by database searches and cross-references, as well as in existing meta-analyses and reviews. Inclusion criteria were: index patient diagnosed with a DSM-IV or ICD-10 listed psychological disorder, or suffering from other clinically relevant conditions, and trial published by December 2011. Studies were analyzed according to their sample, research methodology, interventions applied, and results at end-of-treatment and at follow-up. This article presents findings for internalizing and mixed disorders. Thirty-eight trials were identified, with 33 showing ST to be efficacious for the treatment of internalizing disorders (including mood disorders, eating disorders, and psychological factors in somatic illness). There is some evidence for ST being also efficacious in mixed disorders, anxiety disorders, Asperger disorder, and in cases of child neglect. Results were stable across follow-up periods of up to 5 years. Trials on the efficacy of ST for externalizing disorders are presented in a second article. There is a sound evidence base for the efficacy of ST as a treatment for internalizing disorders of child and adolescent patients.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, drug companies and the internet

This study investigated the influence of drug-company funding on websites about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Websites in the top 60 for either Google or Yahoo!Xtra with information about causation and treatment were analysed. Likert scales, based on those used in previous similar studies, were developed to rate aetiological explanations and recommended treatment approaches, on a dimension from psycho-social to biological. Overall, the quality of information on websites was poor with a strong bias towards bio-genetic aetiological explanations of ADHD. Twenty-one of the 57 websites (37%) were funded by drug companies. The drug-company funded (DCF) websites were significantly more likely than non-DCF websites to recommend medication rather than psycho-social treatments. The selective lack of consideration of psycho-social treatments by DCF websites is discussed in relation to the relevant research literature, including the evidence in favour of a multimodal approach. The findings, which are consistent with previous similar studies in relation to websites about adult mental health problems, confirm that the pharmaceutical industry is seeking to influence public opinion via the internet.

The efficacy of systemic therapy with adult patients: a meta-content analysis of 38 randomized controlled trials

Systemic therapy is a widely used psychotherapy approach. Yet there exist few systematic reviews on its efficacy. A meta-content analysis was performed to analyze the efficacy of systemic therapy for the treatment of mental disorders in adulthood. All randomized (or matched) controlled trials (RCT) evaluating systemic/systems oriented therapy in various settings (family, couple, individual, group, multifamily group therapy) with adult index patients suffering from mental disorders were identified by database searches and cross-references in other reviews. Inclusion criteria were: index patient diagnosed with a DSM or ICD listed mental disorder, trial published in any language up to the end of 2008. The RCTs were content analyzed according to their research methodology, interventions applied, and results. Thirty-eight trials published in English, German, Spanish, and Chinese were identified, 34 of them showing systemic therapy to be efficacious for the treatment of mood disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, mental and social factors related to medical conditions and physical disorders, and schizophrenia. Systemic therapy may also be efficacious for anxiety disorders. Results were stable across follow-up periods of up to 5 years. There is a sound evidence-base for the efficacy of systemic therapy for adult index patients with mental disorders in at least five diagnostic groups.

Die Wirksamkeit Systemischer Therapie bei Substanzstörungen des Jugend- und Erwachsenenalters

Hintergrund: Systemische (Familien-, Paar-, Gruppen-, Multi-Familien-Gruppen-, Einzel-)Therapie ist in den USA und vielen europäischen Ländern ein anerkanntes und etabliertes Psychotherapieverfahren, in Deutschland jedoch erst seit 2008 wissenschaftlich anerkannt und bisher nur unzureichend in der klinischen Versorgung etabliert. Methode: Über Datenbankrecherchen und Querverweise in Metaanalysen und Reviews wurden alle bis Ende 2008 publizierten kontrollierten, randomisierten (oder parallelisierten) Outcome-Studien zur systemischen Therapie (alle Settings) bei ICD-10-/DSM-IV-Substanzstörungen des Erwachsenen- und des Jugendalters identifiziert und systematisch inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet (Meta-Inhaltsanalyse). Ergebnisse: Es wurden 10 RCT zur systemischen Therapie bei Störungen des Erwachsenenalters und 17 RCT zum Jugendalter identifiziert – trotz internationaler Recherchen ausschließlich englischsprachige Publikationen. Sehr gut belegt ist die Wirksamkeit systemischer Familientherapie bei Substanzstörungen des Jugendalters, insbes. Cannabisstörungen (auch in Kombination mit dissozialen und/oder internalisierenden Störungen). Bei erwachsenen Heroinabhängigen ist ST kombiniert mit Methadonsubstitution nachweislich wirksamer als Methadonsubstitution allein. Weniger überzeugend ist die Evidenz zu Alkoholstörungen im Erwachsenenalter. Die Ergebnisse sind meist zeitlich stabil über Katamnese-Zeiträume von bis zu fünf Jahren. Schlussfolgerungen: Bei Substanzstörungen des Jugendalters ist systemische Therapie weltweit das am besten evaluierte Verfahren. In Bezug auf das Erwachsenenalter sind die Befunde auch positiv, aber weniger umfassend.

[Is evidence-based assessment fact or fiction? A bibliometric analysis of three German journals]

OBJECTIVES

Despite the ongoing process for the development and dissemination of empirically supported treatments, little attention has been paid to the development of evidence-based diagnostics. The article aims at evaluating diagnostic procedures and instruments in current clinical research in terms of evidence-based assessment.

METHODS

Volumes 2006 and 2007 of three German psychological journals "Psychotherapeut," "Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Medizinische Psychologie," and "Zeitschrift für Psychiatrie, Psychologie und Psychotherapie" were screened for empirical reports and articles dealing with diagnostic issues. 93 articles were identified and evaluated.

RESULTS

Most studies used psychometrically valid and established instruments for assessment. However, diagnostic interviews were relatively scarce, as were multimodal assessments. Measures used for outcome evaluation often lacked evidence of sensitivity to change.

CONCLUSION

Clinical assessment to date does not meet criteria for evidence-based diagnostics. Implications for research and guideline development are discussed.

[Efficacy of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic interventions in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders--a systematic evaluation of meta-analyses and reviews. Part I: Anxiety disorders and depressive disorders]

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, a large and growing body of research on the effectiveness of treatments for psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence has been published; however, the large number makes it difficult to get an overview on the current status of research. The aim of this article is to systematically review the existing meta-analyses and reviews on the four most frequent childhood and adolescent psychiatric disorders (anxiety disorder, depression, ADHD, conduct disorder) and to present an up-to-date summary on the effects of treatment for those disorders.

METHODS

This article is based on a systematic literature search, which produced 112 meta-analyses and reviews on efficacy of psychological and psychiatric interventions in childhood and adolescence published between 2000 and 2007. The articles resulting from the literature search were evaluated according to clearly defined criteria. Presentation of the results follows a dichotomous classification (internalizing vs. externalizing disorders), with Part I of this article reporting the results on anxiety disorders and depressive disorders.

RESULTS

The majority of reviews published between 2000 and 2007 focuses on the treatment of depressive disorders and ADHD. Only for ADHD is the use of medication (stimulants) considered to be the most efficacious treatment option available. For the remaining three disorders, psychotherapy is recommended as the most effective treatment of choice. A combination of psychological and pharmacological treatments is an important option in ADHD and depressive disorders. Considering the efficacy, treatments for ADHD and anxiety disorders produce higher effect-sizes than do interventions for depressive and conduct disorders. For all disorders, there are several desiderata (content and methodological aspects) to be incorporated into future research.

DISCUSSION

Empirically supported treatment recommendations can be derived for anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, ADHD and conduct disorders. Finally, important implications for research and practice are discussed.