A Short-Term Treatment Program in a Child Guidance Clinic

Social Work ◽  
1968 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mechthild Wenk-Ansohn ◽  
Carina Heeke ◽  
Maria Böttche ◽  
Nadine Stammel

Background:A short-term multimodal acute treatment program of approximately six months' duration for newly arrived refugees at Center ÜBERLEBEN (Berlin Center for Torture Victims) was developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this program by examining changes in PTSD, anxiety and depression symptom severity after treatment, and to reflect on practical experiences in carrying out the program. Methods:At the beginning (T1) and following completion of the short term treatment program (T2) patients in a single-group design were assessed with the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for PTSD and the Hopkins-Symptom Checklist for depression and anxiety (per-protocol analysis). Results:Of the 92 patients who completed T1, 44 completed T2 assessments. Medium to large effect sizes were found for reductions in overall PTSD (d = 0.88), depression (d = 0.83), and anxiety symptoms (d = 0.67). While at the beginning of treatment (T1) 97.7% (n = 43) fulfilled diagnostic criteria for both PTSD and depression, and 95.5% (n=42) for anxiety, at T2, 70.5% (n = 31) fulfilled the criteria for clinically relevant PTSD, 79.5% (n = 35) for depression and 70.5% (n = 31) for anxiety. Discussion:Despite the high symptom load at the beginning of treatment, uncertainties regarding residence status, and the unstable living conditions, patients seem to benefit from the multidisciplinary short term treatment. This study adds preliminary evidence to the efficacy of multimodal treatment and suggests that improvements in symptom severity can be achieved within the often extremely stressful period after arrival.


1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 286-287
Author(s):  
Annette Goulden ◽  
Elund Dorkings

We decided to set up a short-term, closed group of mothers attending our local clinic, with the following questions in mind.


1966 ◽  
Vol 112 (487) ◽  
pp. 613-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie K. Hare

Conventional Child Guidance treatment includes a diagnostic “work-up” of five to ten hours and then weekly psychotherapeutic and casework interviews for the child and mother which last for months or years and are very expensive of professional time. There have been few reports of evaluation of such treatment, though Levitt (1963) combined the results of a number of studies to include nearly 10,000 child patients. Of those who received treatment, between two-thirds and three-quarters were improved, but a similar improvement rate occurred in those who were not treated. Eisenberg and Gruenberg (1961) found short-term treatment as effective as intensive psychotherapy, and Phillips and Johnston (1954) and Phillips (1960) claimed better results with short than with conventional treatment. Among the few reports from Britain is that of Barbour and Beedell (1955). They found no difference in outcome between treated and untreated cases or between short and long methods of treatment.


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