Child & Adolescent Behavioral Problems
Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders (DSM-5-TR)
Oppositional behavior, aggression, conduct problems, and emotional dysregulation in youth. Includes ODD, conduct disorder, and ADHD-related behavioral challenges. Parent training approaches (PCIT, Triple P) and family therapies (FFT, MST) have strong evidence.
Prevalence: ~8% for ODD; ~4% for conduct disorder
20 Therapeutic Approaches
Sorted by evidence tier: guideline-recommended first, then RCT-supported, then emerging/limited evidence.
Guideline-Recommended (8)
Family Systems
Brief Strategic Family Therapy
Jose Szapocznik · 1978
NIDA recommended; SAMHSA NREPP listed; WHO mhGAP references family interventions
Attachment
Child-Parent Psychotherapy
Alicia Lieberman · 1995
Effect: d = 0.63
~55-65% improvement in symptoms
California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse: highest rating (1); SAMHSA NREPP listed
Family Systems
FFT
Alexander / Parsons · 1973
SAMHSA: listed. Blueprints: Model Plus
Family Systems
MST
Scott Henggeler · 1998
Effect: d = 0.47
~25-70% reduction in arrests
NICE: recommended for conduct disorder. SAMHSA: listed
Behavioral
PCIT
Sheila Eyberg · 1988
NICE: referenced for conduct problems. APA Div 12: Strong Research Support
Humanistic
Play Therapy
Virginia Axline · 1947
Effect: d = 0.80
~55-70% improvement
Recognized in child therapy literature
Cognitive-Behavioral
TF-CBT
Cohen / Mannarino / Deblinger · 2006
NICE: recommended for child PTSD. APA: recommended. SAMHSA: listed
Behavioral
Triple P
Matt Sanders · 1999
NICE: referenced. WHO: endorsed
RCT-Supported (9)
Family Systems
FBT / Maudsley
Lock / Le Grange · 1985
Humanistic
Motivational Interviewing
Miller / Rollnick · 1983
Postmodern
SFBT
de Shazer / Insoo Kim Berg · 1985
Family Systems
Strategic Family Therapy
Jay Haley / Cloe Madanes · 1973
Family Systems
Structural Family Therapy
Salvador Minuchin · 1974
Cognitive-Behavioral
DBT for Adolescents
Alec Miller, Jill Rathus, Marsha Linehan · 2007
Humanistic
Filial Therapy
Bernard Guerney · 1964
Expressive
Sandtray Therapy
Dora Kalff (Jungian) / Various · 1956
Attachment
Theraplay
Ann Jernberg · 1967
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