Abstract
BackgroundPsychotherapy is an effective treatment for mental health disorders, but even with the most efficacious treatment, many patients do not experience improvement. Moderator analysis can identify the conditions under which treatment is effective or whether there are factors that can attenuate the effects of treatment.MethodsIn this study, linear mixed model analysis was used to examine whether the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), Performance IQ (PIQ) and Verbal IQ (VIQ) on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Third Edition, moderated outcomes in general functioning and symptom load. A total of 132 patients treated at three outpatient child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) were assessed at three different time points. The Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA) were used to measure the severity of impairments in general functioning and symptom load. IQ was assessed at the start of treatment.ResultsModerator analysis revealed that the FSIQ × time interaction predicted changes in CGAS scores (p < .01), and that the PIQ × time interaction predicted changes in HoNOSCA scores (p < .05). The slopes and intercepts in HoNOSCA scores covaried negatively and significantly (p < .05). The same pattern was not detected for the CGAS scores (p = .08).ConclusionsFISQ and PIQ moderated change in general functioning and symptom load, respectively. This implies that patients with higher IQ scores had a steeper improvement slope than those with lower scores. The patients with the highest initial symptom loads showed the greatest improvement, this pattern was not found in the improvement of general functioning.
Highlights
Numerous studies have shown that psychotherapy is an efficacious treatment for mental health disorders among children and adolescents [1], but even with the most efficacious interventions, many patients do not experience therapeutic improvement
We compared patients with and without HoNOSCA scores at the final assessment with independent sample t-tests examining the following variables: HoNOSCA and Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) score at the intake assessment, age, Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), Verbal IQ (VIQ), Performance IQ (PIQ) and mental health as measured by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) questionnaire
The main objective of this study was to examine if the different WISC-III IQ scales moderates changes in symptom load and general functioning among children and adolescents referred to mental health outpatient clinics
Summary
Numerous studies have shown that psychotherapy is an efficacious treatment for mental health disorders among children and adolescents [1], but even with the most efficacious interventions, many patients do not experience therapeutic improvement. Low IQ is a risk factor for mental health disorders. A study of Australian children showed that borderline intellectual functioning (IQs in the range of 70–85) increased the risk of mental health disorders [10]. In spite of the finding that low IQ is a risk factor for mental health disorders, only a small number of studies have investigated whether patients’ IQs moderate the effects of therapy. Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for mental health disorders, but even with the most efficacious treatment, many patients do not experience improvement. Moderator analysis can identify the conditions under which treatment is effective or whether there are factors that can attenuate the effects of treatment
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