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Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rcmh20
Journal abstracts from current research in the field of child and adolescent mental health Erhabor S Idemudia
a
a
Department of Psychology (Ipelegeng Child & Family Centre), North West University , Mmbatho Published online: 22 Aug 2011.
To cite this article: Erhabor S Idemudia (2011) Journal abstracts from current research in the field of child and adolescent mental health, Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 23:1, 65-68, DOI: 10.2989/17280583.2011.594292 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2011.594292
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
& Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/ terms-and-conditions
Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2011, 23(1): 65–68 Printed in South Africa — All rights reserved
Copyright © NISC Pty Ltd
JOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH ISSN 1728–0583 EISSN 1728–0591 DOI: 10.2989/17280583.2011.594292
Abstracts
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
Journal abstracts from current research in the field of child and adolescent mental health
Gonzales NA, Coxe S, Roosa MW, White RMB, Knight GP, Zeiders KH and Saenz D (2011) Economic hardship, neighborhood context, and parenting: Prospective effects on Mexican– American adolescent’s mental health. American Journal of Community Psychology 47(1–2): 98–113 This study examined family and neighborhood influences relevant to low-income status to determine how they combine to predict the parenting behaviors of Mexican–American mothers and fathers. The study also examined the role of parenting as a mediator of these contextual influences on adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Study hypotheses were examined in a diverse sample of Mexican–American families in which 750 mothers and 467 fathers reported on their own levels of parental warmth and harsh parenting. Family economic hardship, neighborhood familism values, and neighborhood risk indicators were all uniquely associated with maternal and paternal warmth, and maternal warmth mediated the effects of these contextual influences on adolescent externalizing symptoms in prospective analyses. Parents’ subjective perceptions of neighborhood danger interacted with objective indicators of neighborhood disadvantage to influence maternal and paternal warmth. Neighborhood familism values had unique direct effects on adolescent externalizing symptoms in prospective analyses, after accounting for all other context and parenting effects. O’Kane D (2011) A phenomenological study of child and adolescent mental health consultation in primary care. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 18(2): 185–188 This paper explores the understanding of school nurses regarding mental health consultation—what it means to them and how it is utilized. It goes on to identify the issues that arise in practice. The study focuses on the practice of mental health consultation by nurses within a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) with school nurses working with a range of child mental health issues in the UK. The paper offers future directions for the implementation of mental health consultation in practice. Qualitative research informed by phenomenology was chosen as the research methodology. Open ended questions in semi-structured interviews were conducted until participants felt they had finished or exhausted their descriptions of the phenomenon of mental health consultation. The length of the interviews varied from 45 to 60 min. The interviews were transcribed and became the phenomenological texts from which analysis was made. Consistent with a phenomenological paradigm, a small number of five participants were identified for the study. Because of their role in providing a variety of services supporting all children of school age years to attain good physical and mental health, school nurses in a northern UK city were identified as being well placed as participants to represent primary care. The findings reflected that some school nurses felt completely out of their depth, in both knowledge and experience. One major finding also recognized the beliefs and/or hopes that the school nurses had of the consultation process. The findings have highlighted that it appears difficult to put consultation into practice in a consistent manner, because of the problematic nature of
66
Abstracts
defining it in the first instance. This is despite the general agreement between professionals working with children and mental health issues that the consultation is needed.
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
Sentse M, Ormel J, Veenstra R, Verhulst FC and Oldehinkel AJ (2011) Child temperament moderates the impact of parental separation on adolescent mental health: The trails study. Journal of Family Psychology 25(1): 97–106 The potential effect of parental separation during early adolescence on adolescent externalizing and internalizing problems was investigated in a longitudinal sample of adolescents (n = 1274; mean age = 16.27; 52.3% girls). Pre-separation mental health problems were controlled for. Building on a large number of studies that overall showed a small effect of parental separation, it was argued that separation may only or especially have an effect under certain conditions. It was examined whether child temperament (effortful control and fearfulness) moderates the impact of parental separation on specific mental health domains. Hypotheses were derived from a goal-framing theory, with a focus on goals related to satisfying the need for autonomy and the need to belong. Controlling for the overlap between the outcome domains, we found that parental separation led to an increase in externalizing problems but not internalizing problems when interactions with child temperament were ignored. Moreover, child temperament moderated the impact of parental separation, in that it was only related to increased externalizing problems for children low on effortful control, whereas it was only related to increased internalizing problems for children high on fearfulness. The results indicate that person-environment interactions are important for understanding the development of mental health problems and that these interactions can be domain-specific. Leo RJ, Srinivasan SP and Parekh S (2011) The role of the mental health practitioner in the assessment and treatment of child and adolescent chronic pain. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 2–8 Chronic and recurrent benign pain complaints are common among children and adolescents. Although many young persons with chronic pain adapt well, a small, but significant, proportion experience marked functional deficits. Pain can produce life disruptions, e.g. impeding activities and maturation, and interferes with family functioning. Conventional medically-based approaches have been inadequate in addressing chronic pain and its sequelae. Instead, effective management requires an interdisciplinary approach involving paediatricians and mental health practitioners working collaboratively to treat psychiatric comorbidities, enhance the patient’s functional adaptation, restore the child or adolescent’s maturational and social capabilities and reduce family disruptions. James AC, Winmill L, Anderson C and Alfoadari K (2011) A preliminary study of an extension of a community dialectic behaviour therapy (DBT) programme to adolescents in the looked after care system. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 9–13 Background: Adolescents in the Looked After Care (LAC) system demonstrate high rates of psychiatric disorder and self-harm; however, there is little evidence for therapies reducing self-harm in this population. Method: An open evaluation of DBT for adolescents with repeated serious self-harm in the LAC system was undertaken. Results: An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that DBT was successful at reducing the core elements of depression, hopelessness and self-harm; however, 35% (7/20) failed to engage. Conclusion: DBT is a useful treatment option; the failure, however, of some adolescents to engage in therapy may be due to their higher initial rates of depression and hopelessness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2011, 23(1): 65–68
67
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
Flouri E, Hickey J, Mavroveli S and Hurry J (2011) Adversity, emotional arousal, and problem behaviour in adolescence: The role of non-verbal cognitive ability as a resilience promoting factor. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 22–29 Background: To test whether emotional arousal mediates the moderator effect of non-verbal cognitive ability on the association between cumulative contextual risk (number of proximal and distal adverse life events) and adolescent problem behaviour. Method: Data from a UK community sample of secondary school aged children were used. The study sample comprised 207 children with a mean age of 13.44 years (SD = 1.45). Problem behaviour was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, non-verbal cognitive ability was assessed with Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices Plus, and emotional arousal was measured with the Acting Out Emotions Scale of the Emotion Awareness Questionnaire. Adjustment was made for gender, age, family structure, and socio-economic disadvantage. Results: Non-verbal cognitive ability moderated the effect of cumulative contextual risk on overall problem behaviour, and emotional arousal mediated this moderator effect. That is, risk predicted emotional arousal, which predicted overall problem behaviour, but emotional arousal was more strongly related to overall problem behaviour among children of low non-verbal cognitive ability than among children of high non-verbal cognitive ability. Conclusions: These findings are important for both theory development and intervention design. They advance theory because they suggest that non-verbal cognitive ability buffers the effect of risk on overall problem behaviour by strengthening control over emotions. They have implications for intervention design because they suggest that interventions carried out to enhance children’s emotion regulation skills in the presence of multiple adversity might be more effective if they target children who score low on non-verbal cognitive ability. Paradis AD, Giaconia RM, Reinherz HZ, Beardslee WR, Ward KE and Fitzmaurice GM (2011) Adolescent family factors promoting healthy adult functioning: A longitudinal community study. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 30–37 Background: Although long-held wisdom and current research suggests that accepting and supportive family relationships may positively influence adult psychosocial functioning, few studies have prospectively investigated these associations. This study examined whether positive family factors during adolescence are associated with healthy adult functioning. Method: The 353 participants were part of a single-age cohort whose psychosocial development has been prospectively traced. Two aspects of family functioning—feeling highly valued as a family member and having a family confidant—were measured at age 15. Developmentally-relevant areas of functioning were assessed at age 30. Results: Both positive family factors were predictive of adaptive adult functioning across several domains, including mental health and social/interpersonal functioning. Conclusions: Findings provide evidence about the salient relationships between positive family relationships and later healthy functioning. Webster-Stratton C, Rinaldi J and Reid JM (2011) Long-term outcomes of Incredible Years parenting program: Predictors of adolescent adjustment. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 38–46 Background and method: Fifty-eight boys and 20 girls with early onset conduct problems whose parents received the Incredible Years (IY) parent treatment program when they were 3–8 years (mean 58.7 months) were contacted and reassessed regarding their social and emotional adjustment 8–12 years later. Assessments included home interviews with parents and teenagers separately.
68
Abstracts
Results and conclusion: Adolescent reports indicated that 10% were in the clinical range on internalising behaviours, 23% had engaged in major delinquent acts, and 46% reported some substance use. Eighteen percent of children had criminal justice system involvement and 42% had elevated levels of externalising behaviours (mother report). Post-treatment factors predicting negative outcomes (delinquent acts) were maternal reports of behaviour problems and observed mother– child coercion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
Baruch G, Vrouva I and Wells C (2011) Outcome findings from a parent training programme for young people with conduct problems. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 47–54 Background: Group-based parent training programmes are a common intervention for tackling conduct problems in young people. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a parent training programme on young people presenting with conduct problems. Method: 123 parents of young people aged 10 to 17 with conduct problems participated in the study. A one-group, pre-post design was adopted. Participants completed the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) at the beginning and end of the parenting programme. The degree of change was indexed by: a) Mean change; b) change from clinical to non-clinical status; and c) Reliable change. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of reliable positive change in CBCL problems. Results: Analyses from all three sources suggest that there was a significant reduction in CBCL internalising, externalising and total scores. Withdrawn score pre-treatment was the only independent predictor of reliable change in internalising and total scores: the higher the score pre-treatment, the greater the chances of reliable improvement in post-treatment scores. Conclusions: The study provides evidence in support of the therapeutic improvement achieved by some young people whose parents attended the group parent training programme. The programme had a significant impact on internalising as well as externalising problems. Further studies of the programme would benefit from being run as a randomised clinical trial. Davis Kenaley BL and Williams NJ (2011) A preliminary evaluation: Demographic and clinical profiles and changes in functioning in children receiving psychosocial rehabilitation. Children and Youth Services Review 33(2): 301–307 The present study is the first to examine the demographic and clinical profiles at intake of children, ages 4 to 18 years, who received Child Psychosocial Rehabilitation (CSPR), a relatively new community-based treatment model for children with emotional disturbance. In addition, the relationship between the relative change in psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral functioning as measured by CAFAS (Hodges, 1989, 1994, 2000) and PECFAS (1994, 2000) scores and the children’s age, gender, ethnicity, current living arrangement, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and severity of impairment at intake were evaluated. Fifty-three children received CPSR for a minimum of six months from a for-profit outpatient child and adolescent mental health clinic located in southwestern Idaho. Significant improvement in the children’s overall functioning was found after six months of treatment. Middle or high school age children demonstrated significantly more impairment at intake compared with their younger counterparts. No significant differences in overall functioning were revealed considering the characteristic of gender, living arrangement and clinical profiles at intake.
Erhabor S Idemudia Department of Psychology (Ipelegeng Child & Family Centre), North West University, Mmbatho e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rcmh20
Journal abstracts from current research in the field of child and adolescent mental health Erhabor S Idemudia
a
a
Department of Psychology (Ipelegeng Child & Family Centre), North West University , Mmbatho Published online: 22 Aug 2011.
To cite this article: Erhabor S Idemudia (2011) Journal abstracts from current research in the field of child and adolescent mental health, Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 23:1, 65-68, DOI: 10.2989/17280583.2011.594292 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2011.594292
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
& Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/ terms-and-conditions
Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2011, 23(1): 65–68 Printed in South Africa — All rights reserved
Copyright © NISC Pty Ltd
JOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH ISSN 1728–0583 EISSN 1728–0591 DOI: 10.2989/17280583.2011.594292
Abstracts
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
Journal abstracts from current research in the field of child and adolescent mental health
Gonzales NA, Coxe S, Roosa MW, White RMB, Knight GP, Zeiders KH and Saenz D (2011) Economic hardship, neighborhood context, and parenting: Prospective effects on Mexican– American adolescent’s mental health. American Journal of Community Psychology 47(1–2): 98–113 This study examined family and neighborhood influences relevant to low-income status to determine how they combine to predict the parenting behaviors of Mexican–American mothers and fathers. The study also examined the role of parenting as a mediator of these contextual influences on adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Study hypotheses were examined in a diverse sample of Mexican–American families in which 750 mothers and 467 fathers reported on their own levels of parental warmth and harsh parenting. Family economic hardship, neighborhood familism values, and neighborhood risk indicators were all uniquely associated with maternal and paternal warmth, and maternal warmth mediated the effects of these contextual influences on adolescent externalizing symptoms in prospective analyses. Parents’ subjective perceptions of neighborhood danger interacted with objective indicators of neighborhood disadvantage to influence maternal and paternal warmth. Neighborhood familism values had unique direct effects on adolescent externalizing symptoms in prospective analyses, after accounting for all other context and parenting effects. O’Kane D (2011) A phenomenological study of child and adolescent mental health consultation in primary care. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 18(2): 185–188 This paper explores the understanding of school nurses regarding mental health consultation—what it means to them and how it is utilized. It goes on to identify the issues that arise in practice. The study focuses on the practice of mental health consultation by nurses within a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) with school nurses working with a range of child mental health issues in the UK. The paper offers future directions for the implementation of mental health consultation in practice. Qualitative research informed by phenomenology was chosen as the research methodology. Open ended questions in semi-structured interviews were conducted until participants felt they had finished or exhausted their descriptions of the phenomenon of mental health consultation. The length of the interviews varied from 45 to 60 min. The interviews were transcribed and became the phenomenological texts from which analysis was made. Consistent with a phenomenological paradigm, a small number of five participants were identified for the study. Because of their role in providing a variety of services supporting all children of school age years to attain good physical and mental health, school nurses in a northern UK city were identified as being well placed as participants to represent primary care. The findings reflected that some school nurses felt completely out of their depth, in both knowledge and experience. One major finding also recognized the beliefs and/or hopes that the school nurses had of the consultation process. The findings have highlighted that it appears difficult to put consultation into practice in a consistent manner, because of the problematic nature of
66
Abstracts
defining it in the first instance. This is despite the general agreement between professionals working with children and mental health issues that the consultation is needed.
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
Sentse M, Ormel J, Veenstra R, Verhulst FC and Oldehinkel AJ (2011) Child temperament moderates the impact of parental separation on adolescent mental health: The trails study. Journal of Family Psychology 25(1): 97–106 The potential effect of parental separation during early adolescence on adolescent externalizing and internalizing problems was investigated in a longitudinal sample of adolescents (n = 1274; mean age = 16.27; 52.3% girls). Pre-separation mental health problems were controlled for. Building on a large number of studies that overall showed a small effect of parental separation, it was argued that separation may only or especially have an effect under certain conditions. It was examined whether child temperament (effortful control and fearfulness) moderates the impact of parental separation on specific mental health domains. Hypotheses were derived from a goal-framing theory, with a focus on goals related to satisfying the need for autonomy and the need to belong. Controlling for the overlap between the outcome domains, we found that parental separation led to an increase in externalizing problems but not internalizing problems when interactions with child temperament were ignored. Moreover, child temperament moderated the impact of parental separation, in that it was only related to increased externalizing problems for children low on effortful control, whereas it was only related to increased internalizing problems for children high on fearfulness. The results indicate that person-environment interactions are important for understanding the development of mental health problems and that these interactions can be domain-specific. Leo RJ, Srinivasan SP and Parekh S (2011) The role of the mental health practitioner in the assessment and treatment of child and adolescent chronic pain. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 2–8 Chronic and recurrent benign pain complaints are common among children and adolescents. Although many young persons with chronic pain adapt well, a small, but significant, proportion experience marked functional deficits. Pain can produce life disruptions, e.g. impeding activities and maturation, and interferes with family functioning. Conventional medically-based approaches have been inadequate in addressing chronic pain and its sequelae. Instead, effective management requires an interdisciplinary approach involving paediatricians and mental health practitioners working collaboratively to treat psychiatric comorbidities, enhance the patient’s functional adaptation, restore the child or adolescent’s maturational and social capabilities and reduce family disruptions. James AC, Winmill L, Anderson C and Alfoadari K (2011) A preliminary study of an extension of a community dialectic behaviour therapy (DBT) programme to adolescents in the looked after care system. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 9–13 Background: Adolescents in the Looked After Care (LAC) system demonstrate high rates of psychiatric disorder and self-harm; however, there is little evidence for therapies reducing self-harm in this population. Method: An open evaluation of DBT for adolescents with repeated serious self-harm in the LAC system was undertaken. Results: An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that DBT was successful at reducing the core elements of depression, hopelessness and self-harm; however, 35% (7/20) failed to engage. Conclusion: DBT is a useful treatment option; the failure, however, of some adolescents to engage in therapy may be due to their higher initial rates of depression and hopelessness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2011, 23(1): 65–68
67
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
Flouri E, Hickey J, Mavroveli S and Hurry J (2011) Adversity, emotional arousal, and problem behaviour in adolescence: The role of non-verbal cognitive ability as a resilience promoting factor. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 22–29 Background: To test whether emotional arousal mediates the moderator effect of non-verbal cognitive ability on the association between cumulative contextual risk (number of proximal and distal adverse life events) and adolescent problem behaviour. Method: Data from a UK community sample of secondary school aged children were used. The study sample comprised 207 children with a mean age of 13.44 years (SD = 1.45). Problem behaviour was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, non-verbal cognitive ability was assessed with Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices Plus, and emotional arousal was measured with the Acting Out Emotions Scale of the Emotion Awareness Questionnaire. Adjustment was made for gender, age, family structure, and socio-economic disadvantage. Results: Non-verbal cognitive ability moderated the effect of cumulative contextual risk on overall problem behaviour, and emotional arousal mediated this moderator effect. That is, risk predicted emotional arousal, which predicted overall problem behaviour, but emotional arousal was more strongly related to overall problem behaviour among children of low non-verbal cognitive ability than among children of high non-verbal cognitive ability. Conclusions: These findings are important for both theory development and intervention design. They advance theory because they suggest that non-verbal cognitive ability buffers the effect of risk on overall problem behaviour by strengthening control over emotions. They have implications for intervention design because they suggest that interventions carried out to enhance children’s emotion regulation skills in the presence of multiple adversity might be more effective if they target children who score low on non-verbal cognitive ability. Paradis AD, Giaconia RM, Reinherz HZ, Beardslee WR, Ward KE and Fitzmaurice GM (2011) Adolescent family factors promoting healthy adult functioning: A longitudinal community study. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 30–37 Background: Although long-held wisdom and current research suggests that accepting and supportive family relationships may positively influence adult psychosocial functioning, few studies have prospectively investigated these associations. This study examined whether positive family factors during adolescence are associated with healthy adult functioning. Method: The 353 participants were part of a single-age cohort whose psychosocial development has been prospectively traced. Two aspects of family functioning—feeling highly valued as a family member and having a family confidant—were measured at age 15. Developmentally-relevant areas of functioning were assessed at age 30. Results: Both positive family factors were predictive of adaptive adult functioning across several domains, including mental health and social/interpersonal functioning. Conclusions: Findings provide evidence about the salient relationships between positive family relationships and later healthy functioning. Webster-Stratton C, Rinaldi J and Reid JM (2011) Long-term outcomes of Incredible Years parenting program: Predictors of adolescent adjustment. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 38–46 Background and method: Fifty-eight boys and 20 girls with early onset conduct problems whose parents received the Incredible Years (IY) parent treatment program when they were 3–8 years (mean 58.7 months) were contacted and reassessed regarding their social and emotional adjustment 8–12 years later. Assessments included home interviews with parents and teenagers separately.
68
Abstracts
Results and conclusion: Adolescent reports indicated that 10% were in the clinical range on internalising behaviours, 23% had engaged in major delinquent acts, and 46% reported some substance use. Eighteen percent of children had criminal justice system involvement and 42% had elevated levels of externalising behaviours (mother report). Post-treatment factors predicting negative outcomes (delinquent acts) were maternal reports of behaviour problems and observed mother– child coercion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
Downloaded by [Adams State University] at 09:53 17 November 2014
Baruch G, Vrouva I and Wells C (2011) Outcome findings from a parent training programme for young people with conduct problems. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16(1): 47–54 Background: Group-based parent training programmes are a common intervention for tackling conduct problems in young people. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a parent training programme on young people presenting with conduct problems. Method: 123 parents of young people aged 10 to 17 with conduct problems participated in the study. A one-group, pre-post design was adopted. Participants completed the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) at the beginning and end of the parenting programme. The degree of change was indexed by: a) Mean change; b) change from clinical to non-clinical status; and c) Reliable change. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of reliable positive change in CBCL problems. Results: Analyses from all three sources suggest that there was a significant reduction in CBCL internalising, externalising and total scores. Withdrawn score pre-treatment was the only independent predictor of reliable change in internalising and total scores: the higher the score pre-treatment, the greater the chances of reliable improvement in post-treatment scores. Conclusions: The study provides evidence in support of the therapeutic improvement achieved by some young people whose parents attended the group parent training programme. The programme had a significant impact on internalising as well as externalising problems. Further studies of the programme would benefit from being run as a randomised clinical trial. Davis Kenaley BL and Williams NJ (2011) A preliminary evaluation: Demographic and clinical profiles and changes in functioning in children receiving psychosocial rehabilitation. Children and Youth Services Review 33(2): 301–307 The present study is the first to examine the demographic and clinical profiles at intake of children, ages 4 to 18 years, who received Child Psychosocial Rehabilitation (CSPR), a relatively new community-based treatment model for children with emotional disturbance. In addition, the relationship between the relative change in psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral functioning as measured by CAFAS (Hodges, 1989, 1994, 2000) and PECFAS (1994, 2000) scores and the children’s age, gender, ethnicity, current living arrangement, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and severity of impairment at intake were evaluated. Fifty-three children received CPSR for a minimum of six months from a for-profit outpatient child and adolescent mental health clinic located in southwestern Idaho. Significant improvement in the children’s overall functioning was found after six months of treatment. Middle or high school age children demonstrated significantly more impairment at intake compared with their younger counterparts. No significant differences in overall functioning were revealed considering the characteristic of gender, living arrangement and clinical profiles at intake.
Erhabor S Idemudia Department of Psychology (Ipelegeng Child & Family Centre), North West University, Mmbatho e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
