The effectiveness of single session therapy in child and adolescent mental health. Part 2: an 18-month follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES

This study examines whether the short-term benefits of planned single session therapy (SST), previously demonstrated for child and adolescent clients with mental health problems, are maintained over an 18-month period. It also investigates the impact of an initial 6-week delay on therapy, and the impact of additional therapy during the 18-month period.

DESIGN

The study is an 18-month follow-up to a cross-sectional clinical study involving treatment of outpatients at a public mental health clinic, over 14 months. All clients had been administered SST. Measures used were those used in the original study, which had a 1-month post-SST follow-up.

METHOD: Each client was assessed using the DSMD, CSQ-8 and the frequency and severity of the major presenting problem. Analysis was performed using repeated measures t tests and one-way repeated measures ANOVA.

RESULTS

The study found that the short-term benefits of SST (measured 1-month after therapy) were maintained 18 months after the initial consultation. Delay of treatment (by 6 weeks) did not appear to impact either the short-term or longer-term results. An additional finding was that about 60% of the group made significant clinical improvement after one session of therapy. In the other cases, one or more extra sessions were provided to consolidate change or maintain improvements.

CONCLUSIONS

The previously demonstrated short-term benefits of SST, for children and adolescents with a range of mental health problems, were shown to be maintained over an 18-month period. However, some clients may benefit from booster sessions. Overall, SST appears to be an empirically supported, cost effective, and beneficial form of therapy for children and adolescents with mental health problems.