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Cognitive behavioural therapy or motivational interviewing for children or youth

Cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT, and motivational interviewing, MI are two psychosocial interventions used for in eliciting behavior change.

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SBU Enquiry Service

Consists of structured literature searches to highlight studies that can address questions received by the SBU Enquiry Service from Swedish healthcare or social service providers. We assess the risk of bias in systematic reviews and when needed also quality and transferability of results in health economic studies. Relevant references are compiled by an SBU staff member, in consultation with an external expert when needed.

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Question

What systematic reviews address the effect of cognitive behavioural therapy or motivational interviewing among any of the following populations:

  • children and youth within institutional youth care
  • children and youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • children and youth with antisocial or aggressive behaviour
  • children and youth s exposed to torture, armed conflict or war escape?

Studies were identified by a literature search of six electronic databases. The full search strategy is available below. We have only included systematic reviews written in English or Swedish. Thesis’s, guidelines and umbrella reviews have been excluded. A total of 1,967 abstracts were reviewed, and of these, 87 articles were assessed in full. Abstracts as well as full text articles were assessed by one person. 41 systematic reviews were found relevant in relation to the question and are found below.

Identified studies

  1. De Swart JJW, Van den Broek H, Stams GJJM, Asscher JJ, Van der Laan PH, Holsbrink-Engels GA, et al. The effectiveness of institutional youth care over the past three decades: A meta-analysis. Children and Youth Services Review 2012;34:1818-1824.
  2. Swedish Council on Health Technology A. SBU Systematic Review Summaries. In: ADHD -- Diagnostics and Treatment, Organization of the Health Care and Patient Involvement. Stockholm: Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment (SBU) Copyright (c) 2013 by the Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment.; 2013.
  3. Chan E, Fogler JM, Hammerness PG. Treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adolescents: A systematic review. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association 2016;315:1997-2008.
  4. Klassen A, Miller A, Raina P, Lee SK, Olsen L. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and youth: A quantitative systematic review of the efficacy of different management strategies. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry / La Revue canadienne de psychiatrie 1999;44:1007-1016.
  5. Sibley MH, Kuriyan AB, Evans SW, Waxmonsky JG, Smith BH. Pharmacological and psychosocial treatments for adolescents with ADHD: An updated systematic review of the literature. Clinical Psychology Review 2014;34:218-232.
  6. Smith BH, Waschbusch DA, Willoughby MT, Evans S, Smith BH, Waschbusch DA, et al. The efficacy, safety, and practicality of treatments for adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Clinical Child & Family Psychology Review 2000;3:243-267.
  7. Catala-Lopez F, Hutton B, Nunez-Beltran A, Page MJ, Ridao M, Macias Saint-Gerons D, et al. The pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: A systematic review with network meta-analyses of randomised trials. PLoS One 2017;12:e0180355.
  8. Sonuga-Barke EJ, Brandeis D, Cortese S, Daley D, Ferrin M, Holtmann M, et al. Nonpharmacological interventions for ADHD: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of dietary and psychological treatments. Am J Psychiatry 2013;170:275-89.
  9. Cortese S, Ferrin M, Brandeis D, Buitelaar J, Daley D, Dittmann RW, et al. Cognitive training for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: meta-analysis of clinical and neuropsychological outcomes from randomized controlled trials. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2015;54:164-74.
  10. Fabiano GA, Pelham WE, Jr., Coles EK, Gnagy EM, Chronis-Tuscano A, O'Connor BC. A meta-analysis of behavioral treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Clin Psychol Rev 2009;29:129-40.
  11. SBU. Autismspektrumtillstånd – diagnostik och insatser, vårdens organisation och patientens delaktighet. Stockholm: Statens beredning för medicinsk utvärdering (SBU); 2013. SBU-rapport nr 215. ISBN 978-91-85413-54-6.
  12. Parr J. Autism. BMJ Clin Evid 2010;2010.
  13. Vasa RA, Carroll LM, Nozzolillo AA, Mahajan R, Mazurek MO, Bennett AE, et al. A systematic review of treatments for anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2014;44:3215-3229.
  14. Warren Z, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Stone W, Bruzek JL, Nahmias AS, Foss-Feig JH, et al. AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. In: Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2011.
  15. Weston L, Hodgekins J, Langdon PE. Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy with people who have autistic spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review 2016;49:41-54.
  16. Lang R, Regester A, Lauderdale S, Ashbaugh K, Haring A. Treatment of anxiety in autism spectrum disorders using cognitive behaviour therapy: A systematic review. Developmental Neurorehabilitation 2010;13:53-63.
  17. Kreslins A, Robertson AE, Melville C. The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2015;9:22.
  18. Sukhodolsky DG, Bloch MH, Panza KE, Reichow B. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in children with high-functioning autism: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics 2013;132:e1341-50.
  19. Ho BPV, Stephenson J, Carter M. Cognitive–behavioural approach for children with autism spectrum disorder: A literature review. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability 2015;40:213-229.
  20. Ung D, Selles R, Small B, Storch E. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Youth with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child Psychiatry & Human Development 2015;46:533-547.
  21. Weitlauf AS, McPheeters ML, Peters B, Sathe N, Travis R, Aiello R, et al. AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. In: Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Behavioral Interventions Update. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2014.
  22. Bennett DS, Gibbons TA. Efficacy of Child Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions for Antisocial Behavior: A Meta-Analysis. Child & Family Behavior Therapy 2000;22:1-15.
  23. Armelius BA, Andreassen TH. Cognitive-behavioral treatment for antisocial behavior in youth in residential treatment. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007:CD005650.
  24. Hoogsteder LM, Stams GJJM, Figge MA, Changoe K, van Horn JE, Hendriks J, et al. A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of individually oriented Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) for severe aggressive behavior in adolescents. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology 2015;26:22-37.
  25. Fossum S, Handegård BH, Adolfsen F, Vis SA, Wynn R. A Meta-Analysis of Long-Term Outpatient Treatment Effects for Children and Adolescents with Conduct Problems. Journal of Child and Family Studies 2016;25:15-29.
  26. Durlak JA, Fuhrman T, Lampman C. Effectiveness of cognitive-behavior therapy for maladapting children: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin 1991;110:204-214.
  27. Smeets K, Leeijen A, Molen M, Scheepers F, Buitelaar J, Rommelse N. Treatment moderators of cognitive behavior therapy to reduce aggressive behavior: a meta-analysis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2015;24:255-264.
  28. Sukhodolsky DG, Kassinove H, Gorman BS. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anger in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Aggression and Violent Behavior 2004;9:247-269.
  29. Özabacı N. Cognitive behavioural therapy for violent behaviour in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Children and Youth Services Review 2011;33:1989-1993.
  30. McCart MR, Priester PE, Davies WH, Azen R. Differential Effectiveness of Behavioral Parent-Training and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Antisocial Youth: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 2006;34:527-543.
  31. Patel N, Kellezi B, Williams AC. Psychological, social and welfare interventions for psychological health and well-being of torture survivors. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014:Cd009317.
  32. O'Sullivan C, Bosqui T, Shannon C. Psychological interventions for children and young people affected by armed conflict or political violence: A systematic literature review. Intervention: Journal of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Conflict Affected Areas 2016;14:142-164.
  33. Silverman WK, Ortiz CD, Viswesvaran C, Burns BJ, Kolko DJ, Putnam FW, et al. Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology 2008;37:156-183.
  34. Gillies D, Maiocchi L, Bhandari AP, Taylor F, Gray C, O'Brien L. Psychological therapies for children and adolescents exposed to trauma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;10:Cd012371.
  35. Dorsey S, McLaughlin KA, Kerns SEU, Harrison JP, Lambert HK, Briggs EC, et al. Evidence Base Update for Psychosocial Treatments for Children and Adolescents Exposed to Traumatic Events. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 2017;46:303-330.
  36. Forman-Hoffman V, Knauer S, McKeeman J, Zolotor A, Blanco R, Lloyd S, et al. AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. In: Child and Adolescent Exposure to Trauma: Comparative Effectiveness of Interventions Addressing Trauma Other Than Maltreatment or Family Violence. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2013.
  37. Miller-Graff LE, Campion K. Interventions for Posttraumatic Stress With Children Exposed to Violence: Factors Associated With Treatment Success. J Clin Psychol 2016;72:226-48.
  38. Battagliese G, Caccetta M, Luppino OI, Baglioni C, Cardi V, Mancini F, et al. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for externalizing disorders: A meta-analysis of treatment effectiveness. Behaviour Research and Therapy 2015;75:60.
  39. Bear RA, Nietzel MT. Cognitive and Behavioral Treatment of Impulsivity in Children: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Outcome Literature. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology 1991;20:400.
  40. Weisz JR, Kuppens S, Ng MY, Eckshtain D, Ugueto AM, Vaughn-Coaxum R, et al. What five decades of research tells us about the effects of youth psychological therapy: A multilevel meta-analysis and implications for science and practice. The American Psychologist 2017;72:79.
  41. McCart MR, Sheidow AJ. Evidence-Based Psychosocial Treatments for Adolescents With Disruptive Behavior. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 2016;45:529-563.

Literature search

Project group

Christel Hellberg and Jessica Dagerhamn at SBU.

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