Presents time-limited dynamic approach to adolescent inpatient group psychotherapy which integrates psychoanalytic and crisis theory into group format and focuses on resolution of problematic interpersonal interactions. Describes three phases of group process: intake phase incorporating ego-functioning assessment; middle phase focusing on making…

Discusses anorexia nervosa in terms of symptoms, characteristics of patients, family relationship, and modes of treatment. Suggests that a combination of psychological and medical treatment is more effective than behavior modification. (JAC)

Notes that, in assessing and diagnosing children and adolescents for psychological treatment, attention must be paid to variations across sources of assessment data, comorbidity of diagnoses, and potential utility of family diagnosis. Presents specific methodological recommendations regarding randomized clinical trials, control groups, dependent…

Presents a literature review on the day treatment of borderline patients and discusses the diagnosis and dynamics of borderline adolescents. Describes methods used in a day hospital program whose goal was to potentiate a successful start of a longer-term psychotherapeutic process that would continue after discharge. Difficulties in prognosis and…

Describes application of techniques for structuring interchange and feedback process in adolescent psychotherapy groups, including random assignment of "roles" for each member during sessions, "parent hot seat" exercises, group goal booklets, and negotiation exercises. Techniques discussed have proven helpful in ensuring effective group…

Uses metaphor of the wedding in an arranged marriage to describe the process of using a network meeting to overcome resistance and engage a hostile adolescent and her family in a residential treatment program. Review of the literature is followed by description of a clinical case. Practical and theoretical issues are discussed. (Author/NB)

Discusses the borderline adolescent in terms of diagnostic perspectives, characteristic features based on disturbed object relations, and treatment. Based on clinical observations, the diagnosis of borderline personality is considered to be compatible with a schizophrenic disorder. Day-treatment and individual therapy are considered from a…

Discusses the use of poetry therapy, utilizing poems composed by the bereaved, as a creative vehicle in grief counseling with adolescents and young adults. Suggests additional strategies for those involved in the assimilation of the death of a parent. (SR)

Notes that psychopharmacologists have made considerable strides in establishing safety and efficacy of psychotropic drug therapy for childhood behavior disorders. Discusses controversy pertaining to appropriateness of medication or inadequacies of clinical management. Presents brief overview of the safety and efficacy of psychotropic drugs and the…

Notes that research suggests no significant difference in rates of dropout between adolescents and adults. Describes termination of psychotherapy with adolescent patient to examine specific quality of adolescent dropouts. Contends that strong counter-transference feelings evoked in therapist tends to maintain impression of adolescents' proclivity…

Reports experience with 14 adolescent cases of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Discusses adolescents' tendency not to cooperate with behavior therapy and medication, and the usefulness of psychotherapy in treating these patients. Concludes that non-specific milieu therapy leads to recovery in a majority of adolescent obsessive compulsives. Admits…

Describes characteristics of borderline adolescents and reviews diagnostic issues. Uses two case studies to illustrate general treatment strategies that could be useful to clinicians in mental health programs and family courts. (JAC)

Considers three areas with special relevance to liability and child therapy: informed consent, confidentiality, and child-abuse reporting laws. In each area, issues that may be confronted in therapy or research on therapy are discussed, and sampling of relevant laws is explored. Considers suggestions for avoiding potential liability and protecting…

This booklet describes Houston's Systemic Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP), an outpatient-based program for adolescents who have attempted suicide, used during the suicidal crisis period and based on the premise that children need a healthy kin system to serve as a buffer to the all too frequent crises of adolescence. The introduction presents…

Presents a method of therapy for families with an acting-out adolescent or young adult. Aims at altering the underlying problem of immaturity. Outlines a four-phase process in working with the parents over an extended period of time. (Author/JAC)