Meta-Analysis of Counseling Outcomes for Youth With Conduct Disorders

Abstract

Twenty-one clinical trials were synthesized using a random-effects model, which substantiated that counseling generally produces a medium effect in treating conduct disorder in youth at termination (d+ = 0.30 to 0.57; k = 28). However, the lasting effects at follow-up were unclear because few follow-up studies (k = 13) have been conducted (d+ = −0.53 to 0.58), and only 2 randomized controlled follow-up studies were located. No effects of moderating variables were evident. Implications for counseling practice and outcome research are addressed.