Evaluating outpatient pediatric psychology services in a primary care setting

Objective: To provide descriptive and outcome information of an outpatient pediatric psychology clinic based in a medical center in a major metropolitan area. Methods: We coded the characteristics and outcomes of 100 patients prospectively on a number of dimensions. Surveys and interviews were used to gather follow-up information. Results: The majority of patients were Caucasian boys (n = 56 out of 100) between 2 and 12 years of age. The most common reasons for initiating contact with the clinic were assessment of school problems, behavior problems, anger, attention problems, depression, and temper tantrums. Eighty-one percent of the patients saw a therapist for brief treatment, between one and five sessions, and behavioral treatments were administered for the majority. The children's behavior for which the parents sought treatment improved significantly from pre- to posttreatment, as rated by parents and therapists. Conclusions: Overall, parents were satisfied with the services received and indicated that the recommendations given during therapy were helpful and easy to implement. This study provides general evidence for the effectiveness of pediatric psychology services.