Self-administered psychosocial treatments for children and families

Self-administered psychosocial treatments for child health problems have the potential to circumvent barriers to traditional models of care. They are convenient and inexpensive to families and, for some types of problems, may be as effective as therapist-based care. In a review of past research on child- and parent-facilitated self-administered treatments, it was found that a stronger evidence base exists in support of some formats (manual- and multimedia-based treatments) than for others (inspirational literature and support groups). The practical, ethical, and legal issues associated with self-administered treatments are discussed as well as avenues for future research. How psychologists and health care systems respond to the opportunities associated with self-administered treatments for children will likely affect the face of the profession and the health of children in the future.