What are the effects of different types of psychological therapies on outcomes in children with chronic illness and their parents?

Abstract

Cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) and problem solving may improve some symptoms in parents and children among families of a child with a chronic illness, but evidence on other outcomes and on other psychological therapies is very uncertain.Compared with control, moderate‐certainty evidence shows a small improvement in child behavior/disability with CBT post treatment and at 2 to 12 months? follow‐up. Low‐ to moderate‐certainty evidence suggests slightly better parenting behavior with CBT at short term and at follow‐up, respectively. Researchers observed small improvements in parent mental health and in child physical symptoms (very low‐certainty evidence) with CBT post treatment. They found little to no difference in child physical symptoms at follow‐up (low‐certainty evidence) or in child mental health (high‐ to moderate‐certainty evidence) at either time point with CBT.Moderate‐certainty evidence shows slightly better parent mental health symptoms at short term and at follow‐up (3 to 6 months) with problem solving compared with control, and low‐ to very low‐certainty evidence suggests possible improvement in parenting behavior at both time points. Evidence on other outcomes assessed (child behavior, family functioning, child physical symptoms, child mental health) is very low certainty.Effects of family therapy, multisystemic (individually tailored) psychotherapy, and motivational interviewing are unclear, as only very low‐certainty evidence is available. No studies have assessed adverse events.