What Works for Whom? A Critical Review of Treatments for Children and Adolescents

What Works for Whom? A Critical Review of Treatments for Children and Adolescents provides a comprehensive analysis of evidence-based mental health interventions for young people. The book examines research data and clinical outcomes across major categories of psychological disorders and treatment approaches. Fonagy and his co-authors evaluate hundreds of studies on treatments ranging from cognitive behavioral therapy to family-based interventions. Each chapter focuses on specific conditions like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and conduct problems, weighing the scientific support for different therapeutic methods. The text includes detailed methodological critiques of research designs and statistical analyses used in treatment studies. Practice recommendations are provided based on systematic reviews of controlled trials and meta-analyses. This work serves as both a scientific reference and a practical guide, addressing the fundamental question of how to match specific young patients with the most effective therapeutic approaches. The analysis highlights gaps between research evidence and clinical practice while advocating for evidence-based decision making in child and adolescent mental health care.

Readers value this book as a research resource for evidence-based treatments in child and adolescent mental health. Mental health professionals praise the systematic analysis of treatment effectiveness data and clear summaries of findings for different disorders. Likes: - Organization by disorder type makes information easy to locate - Detailed references support further research - Balanced assessment of treatment evidence - Practical clinical applications emphasized Dislikes: - Dense academic writing style can be difficult to read - Some sections need updating with newer research - High price point for individual practitioners - Limited coverage of certain disorders Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (23 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (15 reviews) Notable review quote: "Provides clinicians with exactly what they need - a critical evaluation of what treatments actually work, backed by research evidence." - Clinical psychologist on Amazon The book appears most useful for practitioners and researchers rather than general readers seeking basic treatment information.

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🔍 Peter Fonagy, a pioneering psychoanalyst, developed mentalization-based therapy (MBT), which helps people understand their own and others' mental states—a crucial skill for emotional regulation. 📚 The book analyzes over 1,500 treatment studies, making it one of the most comprehensive reviews of child and adolescent mental health interventions available. 🧠 The text highlights how different treatments may work differently for various age groups—what's effective for a teenager might not work for a young child, even with the same diagnosis. 🎓 Fonagy serves as Chief Executive of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families and holds positions at University College London and Yale University. 📊 The book demonstrates that only about 60% of commonly used therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents have strong empirical support, challenging practitioners to critically evaluate their treatment choices.