Developmentally Informed Research on the Effectiveness of Clinical Trials: A Primer for Assessing How Developmental Issues May Influence Treatment Responses Among Adolescents With Alcohol Use Problems

Abstract

The goal of this article is to familiarize readers with the adolescent developmental issues and processes most likely to affect responses to treatment for alcohol use problems. Although the need for research that blends developmental science and treatment outcome research is widely acknowledged, scant information exists about developmentally informed approaches to treatment research with alcohol-abusing teens. Exactly how developmental issues may influence treatment responses among adolescents with alcohol use problems remains an open question. In the hope of moving developmentally informed research forward, this article reports findings from a literature review regarding the degree to which developmental issues and processes have been considered in adolescent alcohol treatment research. Moreover, promising concepts and methods from applied developmental science are discussed, as are various developmental processes and transitions that may influence adolescent risk behavior. Finally, guidance is provided regarding how applied developmental science conceptualizations and methods may be incorporated successfully into randomized, clinical trials with adolescents with alcohol use problems.

Youth Services System Review: Moving From Knowledge Gathering to Implementation Through Collaboration, Youth Engagement, and Exploring Local Community Needs

“…Youth perspectives are critical if services are to be developmentally informed and responsive to the differences in the needs of youth with mental health and substance use concerns in comparison with those of adults (e.g., Goodman et al, 2015;Wagner, 2008). For example, youth often lack financial independence, autonomy, and stability in various life domains, including social determinants of health such as housing.…”

The Longitudinal Influence of Physical Activity on Adolescent Alcohol Use

“…However, in particular, this study closely examined middle-aged adolescence and an under explored transitional period from middle school to high school (e.g., 13-15 years of age) because of the contemporaneous declines in health promoting behaviors and increases in health compromising behaviors (Wagner, 2008;USDHHS, 2009) during this specific developmental stage. Due to this compelling overlap there exists a real necessity to conduct research and discover methods that will prevent and promote the initiation of negative and positive health behaviors respectively.…”

“…For example, there exists a paucity of children between the ages of 10 and 15 years of age in treatment studies. This is troublesome due to the fact that distinct behavioral differences in the patterns and use of alcohol begin to develop in middle school (Wagner, 2008).…”

“…Adolescence incorporates the transition from childhood to adulthood and is marked by the dramatic physical growth and neurological development, as well as considerable amounts of social and emotional changes (e.g. peer and societal expectations and self-identity issues) that occur during this stage of life (Wagner, 2008;Windle et al, 2009). During this developmental period, three quite distinct influences, biological, psychological, and social influences, begin to converge into one dynamic influence on adolescent behavior (Adams, 2000;Zucker, 2008).…”

“…The most commonly used outcome variables in adolescent alcohol treatment studies are quantity and frequency. However, experts in adolescent alcohol use problems differ on developmentally appropriate measurement of alcohol use outcomes (Wagner, 2008).…”