Intervention research: pushing back the frontiers of pediatric psychology.

Intervention research in pediatric psychology assumes special importance given continuing pressures to develop and document the efficacy of interventions for pediatric populations. Studies presented in this issue illustrate the need for flexible approaches to intervention research including case studies and randomized trials, comprehensive assessment of health and psychological outcomes, assessment of social validity, identification of moderators of intervention effects, innovative treatment applications and strategies to integrate research and practice. Recommendations to enhance the scientific basis and clinical relevance of intervention research include using case series to document promising methods, collecting data in practice settings, assessing costs versus benefits, defining and assessing quality of psychological interventions, and conducting randomized clinical trials.