ABSTRACT
With accumulating data revealing the association between maladaptive parent-child interactions and child maladjustment, family therapy approaches for treating childhood psychopathology have become popular. Family interventions appear particularly valuable for childhood mood disorders, which are frequently developed and maintained within the context of dysfunctional family interactional processes (Oster & Caro, 1990; Sholevar, 1994; Stark, 1990). A recent proliferation of relevant research (for review, see N.J. Kaslow, Deering, & Ash, 1996; N.J.Kaslow, Deering, & Racusin, 1994; McCauley & Myers, 1992) includes theoretical writings advocating family therapy for depressives and reports describing positive outcomes. Few intervention models, however, focus specifically on family therapy with depressed children and adolescents. Development of clearly delineated, empirically grounded, theory-based treatment models for depressed youth will facilitate research and enhance clinical care.
