Subjective outcomes of psychotherapeutic interventions: a naturalistic follow-up study among Finnish adolescent psychiatric outpatients

In adolescence, the prevalence of mental disorders doubles compared to childhood and the need for interventions to reduce psychological symptoms increases. Most evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions are focused on single conditions, but in clinical practice most patients suffer from psychiatric comorbidity. However, research on effective treatment interventions for adolescents in a naturalistic setting is scarce. The aim of this three-month follow-up study was to investigate subjective outcomes of psychotherapeutic interventions in a naturalistic setting among adolescent psychiatric outpatients. The intention was to also find out if verbally performed psychotherapies were more effective than art and occupational therapies in symptom reduction. Further, to investigate whether the frequency of intervention or the severity of self-reported depressive symptoms were related to treatment effect. This study was conducted at the Helsinki University Central Hospital, Department of Adolescent Psychiatry. The study is part of an ongoing longitudinal study focusing on the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions, started in February 2012. The sample comprised 58 adolescents, with a mean age of 14.2 years, referred to psychotherapy or to art and occupational therapies. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome-Measure (CORE-OM) were used as self-assessments both at baseline and the follow-up. The adolescents experienced symptom reduction during the first months of psychotherapeutic treatment. Symptom reduction was related to the frequency, but not to the form, of psychotherapeutic intervention. The life functioning of adolescents with severe depression improved more than those with only mild or moderate depression. In conclusion, psychotherapeutic interventions are effective in reducing the subjective symptoms of clinically referred adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Art and occupational therapies are as effective as psychotherapies in reducing symptoms. The frequency of intervention, as well as the level of depression prior to the intervention, seems to modify the outcome.In adolescence, the prevalence of mental disorders doubles compared to childhood and the need for interventions to reduce psychological symptoms increases. Most evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions are focused on single conditions, but in clinical practice most patients suffer from psychiatric comorbidity. However, research on effective treatment interventions for adolescents in a naturalistic setting is scarce. The aim of this three-month follow-up study was to investigate subjective outcomes of psychotherapeutic interventions in a naturalistic setting among adolescent psychiatric outpatients. The intention was to also find out if verbally performed psychotherapies were more effective than art and occupational therapies in symptom reduction. Further, to investigate whether the frequency of intervention or the severity of self-reported depressive symptoms were related to treatment effect. This study was conducted at the Helsinki University Central Hospital, Department of Adolescent Psychiatry. The study is part of an ongoing longitudinal study focusing on the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions, started in February 2012. The sample comprised 58 adolescents, with a mean age of 14.2 years, referred to psychotherapy or to art and occupational therapies. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome-Measure (CORE-OM) were used as self-assessments both at baseline and the follow-up. The adolescents experienced symptom reduction during the first months of psychotherapeutic treatment. Symptom reduction was related to the frequency, but not to the form, of psychotherapeutic intervention. The life functioning of adolescents with severe depression improved more than those with only mild or moderate depression. In conclusion, psychotherapeutic interventions are effective in reducing the subjective symptoms of clinically referred adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Art and occupational therapies are as effective as psychotherapies in reducing symptoms. The frequency of intervention, as well as the level of depression prior to the intervention, seems to modify the outcome.Peer reviewe