Running head: MAJOR EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS 1

Major Evidence-Based Interventions among Children and Adolescents

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Major Evidence-Based Interventions among Children and Adolescents

The need to apply evidence-based interventions while providing care to juveniles can be

described through Theodore's (2016) statements that 'doing your best is not enough, it is

paramount that nurses know what to do then apply that knowledge in the best form.’ As such,

nurses must apply evidence-based interventions that are documented to be effective by empirical

support. Applying recent and approved healthcare practices results in consistency and efficacy. It

also facilitates practitioners with the guidelines to make well-informed decisions. There are

different types of interventions for children and adolescents. However, only those supported by

empirical research-based evidence provide the basis for augmenting the intellectual and

emotional functioning of these juveniles alongside healthy lifelong development. There are

several major evidence-based interventions effective for supporting children’s and adolescents’

information processing, personality development, intellectual functioning, among others. The

discussion on major interventions is based on treatment methods that receive the best support.

Children with anxious or avoidant behaviors will engage in actions to escape from

uncomfortable feelings and thoughts. Panic disorders affect the behavior of the children, and

they will act on fearful thoughts. They will show anxiety-related symptoms and act out of

avoidance. The interventions with the best support for the disorder include attention training,

cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and CBT with medication (American Academy of Pediatrics,

2013). Some of the medications for these behaviors are anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines.

Another condition common among children and adolescents is a developmental disorder

known as an autism spectrum disorder, which affects the communication and development of a

child. Most children affected by autism have restricted interests; they have a hard time

interacting and show repetitive behaviors. The best-supported intervention is CBT, where mental
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health is improved through psychosocial interventions and aspects such as emotional regulation

(American Academy of Pediatrics, 2013). Additionally, the disorder can be treated through

intensive behavioral treatment and intensive communication training. Other empirically proven

interventions include joint attention engagement and social skills (APA, 2008). Some of the

medications recommended for autism are SSRIs, such as sertraline.

Children and adolescents are prone to depressive or withdrawn behaviors, especially

those who have gone through a rough childhood. Major evidence-based intervention for this

disorder is client-centered therapy (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2013). This form of

therapy involves a person-centered counseling approach where the patient is involved in an

active role during treatment, while the therapist provides nondirective support (APA, 2008).

Other interventions involve CBT with parents, family therapy, and CBT with medications.

Medications for depression are usually SSRIs, antidepressants, or anxiolytics.

Some adolescents suffer from substance use. The condition is common among

individuals who have dealt with depression or PTSD. Substance use involves drug addiction

where an individual’s behavior or mind becomes dependent on a substance and is unable to

function without the drug. People suffering from substance use have no control over themselves.

Juveniles suffering from this condition are difficult to treat (APA, 2008). Some of the treatments

that are proven include cognitive behavioral therapy, community reinforcement, contingency

management, and family therapy. Contingency management is a form of behavior therapy that

involves the use of tangible rewards or incentives for abstinence.

Traumatic stress happens after the child has encounter a traumatic experience such as car

accident or physical abuse (Theodore, 2016). Memories of these events come back to haunt them

in the form of nightmares or flashbacks. There are few empirically approved interventions for
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this disorder, and they include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), CBT,

and CBT with parents. EMDR is a psychotherapeutic intervention where the therapist helps the

patient recall the memories simultaneously applying bilateral sensory input.

Some other behaviors and disorders affect children and adolescents. However, the ones

discussed are the most common disorders. It is important to note that some of the interventions

are recurrent such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and behavior treatment. The

recurring interventions can be summed up as major evidence-based interventions. They include

cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT with parents, CBT and medications, family therapy,

behavioral treatment, patient-centered therapy, and education. Cognitive-behavioral therapy

involves talk therapy, where the patient is assisted in focusing on and understanding emotions

and thoughts that affect behavior. CBT is important for children since it helps them to master

control self-defeating thoughts, defiance, impulsivity, among others (Theodore, 2016). CBT is a

highly effective psychotherapy that helps children and adolescents recover. CBT can also be

used in combination with medication. This form of intervention is suitable for patients with

severe cases of some of the disorders, such as autism and depression.

Parents play an important role in developing interventions for children and adolescents.

The role played by parents is pivotal to an extent the healthcare provider is required to engage

them in almost all stages of therapy. The importance of parents came as a surprise to me,

especially when I realized that most of the current evidence-based research emphasizes educating

parents. In other cases, interventions require the practitioner to engage the parent in separate

sessions where they are helped to understand children's behavior as well as address conditions

they may develop as individuals. My countertransference involved realizing the importance of

parents while I had overlooked this strategy as a possible intervention.

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I learned that there is an aspect of nursing that is mostly overlooked. The aspect of

nursing is an art. The art of nursing involves the intentional creative application of concepts,

skills, and expertise together. The application requires imagination, sensitivity, and active

participation. Additionally, numerous unaddressed ethical issues make nursing practice difficult.

For instance, during one case study, I realized that holding back information from a patient just

because one is afraid of hurting them is unethical and may lead to complications even if holding

back the information may seem the right thing to do. The case involved a patient who delivered

the child, but the child had no chance of survival. The healthcare givers decided to tell the

parents that the child was stillborn. However, the father noticed a heartbeat, and both parents

were disappointed since they had lost precious time where they would have embraced the child

even if it meant doing so for a short time. These are some of the issues someone cannot

anticipate, and through the holistic approach, nursing students are given a chance to avoid

making these mistakes. One of the ways to address ethical concerns is to requisite knowledge.

In conclusion, nursing practice is an engaging profession that may result in burnout and

stress. As a result, nurses should strive to find the perfect work-life balance to balance

responsibilities both at home and in the workplace. The nurse should apply different strategies

that will achieve the challenging task of balance. Some of the strategies include accepting

situations as they are and adapting to the current circumstances. Another strategy involves living

a healthy lifestyle where nurses practice healthy physical and mental practices. Finally, the

nursing profession requires someone ready to take an active role by doing their best and reading

on new empirical research to help them practice current evidence-based interventions. Theodore

(2016) puts this into perspective by stating that a nurse working without reading and active

involvement is like weighing a pig each day, hoping that it will increase in size.
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References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2013). Evidence-based child and adolescent psychosocial

interventions. 2012.

APA Task Force on Evidence‐Based Practice with Children and Adolescents. (2008).

Disseminating Evidence‐Based Practice For Children & Adolescents: A systems

approach to enhancing care.

Theodore, L. A. (Ed.). (2016). Handbook of evidence-based interventions for children and

adolescents. Springer Publishing Company.