Treatment Side Effects

Abstract

Mothers of children referred for psychological services at a community-based, outpatient psychiatric facility completed an assessment of side effects following termination of treatment. The children and their families were randomly assigned to therapists and treatment model (i.e., behavioral or strategic family therapy). A research assistant blind to treatment assignment contacted the mothers following termination and conducted an in-home interview to identify any unexpected positive or negative effects of their families participation in treatment. Side effects were classified as referent to Self, Spouse, Marriage, Another Child, Child-Child, Parent-Child, Child-Client, or Other. One-hundred percent of the mothers participating in behavioral family therapy and 68% of the strategic family therapy group reported satisfaction with treatment outcome. In general, both groups reported significantly more positive than negative side effects in association with their treatment. A discussion of treatment side effects and referent (i.e., classification) differences based on therapy type is included. Reliability and validity characteristics of the assessment procedure is also discussed.