Psychological Intervention Research With Pediatric Patients Having Neurologically Based Chronic Medical Conditions: Methodological and Conceptual Issues

Research has suggested that children and adolescents having a chronic medical condition (CMC), particularly those with a neurologically based CMC, are at risk for developing secondary psychological and psychosocial dysfunction. Currently, there is a paucity of psychological intervention research that has focused on these children and adolescents. Purpose: The present article addresses the methodological and conceptual issues that are salient in the conduct of psychological intervention research with pediatric patients having neurologically based CMCs. The following issues are discussed in relation to psychological intervention research in this area: sample characteristics, therapist characteristics, size of sample, group versus single-participant experimental designs, comparison treatment and control groups, and selection of dependent measures. Conclusion: The issues addressed may assist researchers in the conduct of psychological intervention research, which in turn could lead to establishing evidence-based prescriptive treatments for various emotional and behavioral problems occurring secondarily to neurologically based CMCs in pediatric populations.