Clinical Considerations of Empirical Treatment Studies of Abused Children

Abstract

The following questions are considered in this article from a clinician's perspective, in light of the data provided by three articles in this special section: Should therapy be abuse specific? Who should be the focus of treatment, children or families? Is more severe abuse harder to treat than moderate abuse? Are certain symptoms harder to treat than others? What is the preferable treatment modality? How long should therapy last to make a difference? Should developmental stages be considered in child therapy? How can a practicing clinician most efficiently measure outcome? In addition, the implications of the studies represented in these articles are discussed, and the author stresses the usefulness and value of research and empirical data in the effort to improve treatment outcomes in clinical practice.