This study fills a notable gap in the transdiagnostic literature by evaluating whether an evidence-based transdiagnostic treatment for emotional disorders such as the Unified Protocol for Children (UP-C) is effective for treating childhood behavior problems.
By participating in the study, child participants will learn emotion regulation skills and have opportunities to interact and practice skills with other children who have similar problems. In addition, parent participants will learn effective parenting skills, including appropriate limit-setting, use of praise and consequences, and empathy, that may help them effectively navigate the challenges of caring for a child with behavior concerns (1). Parents will also have the opportunity to interact with other parents who face similar challenges, providing validation and support. Upon completion of the study, investigators plan to share these findings at professional conferences and submit manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals. Collectively, this study will add to the literature in the pediatric mental health field and may also serve as a model for other outpatient clinics regarding implementation and provision of a transdiagnostic approach to treat children with behavior problems. Thus, the main goals of the current study are to examine the effectiveness of the UP-C group treatment in reducing childhood behavior problems, evaluate parents' satisfaction with this treatment, and determine the feasibility of implementing this treatment in a pediatric outpatient setting.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
8
Participating children and their caregivers will attend 90-minute weekly group therapy sessions for 10 consecutive weeks.
Children's Hospital Colorado
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Change in rates of noncompliance, tantruming, and parenting practices on the Home Record Card
Chart for recording events of noncompliance, tantrums, and parenting practices.
Time frame: 12 weeks - Measured daily from baseline to post-treatment
Change in pre- vs. post-treatment scores on the Transdiagnostic Questionnaires for Parent and Child
Measures several transdiagnostic mechanisms including child emotional and behavioral symptoms, sleeping difficulties, and parenting practices.
Time frame: 10 weeks - Measured at Week 1 (pre-treatment) and at Week 10 (post-treatment)
Change in pre- vs. post-treatment scores on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory
Measures intensity of behavior related problems and degree to which these behaviors are viewed as problematic by parents.
Time frame: 10 weeks - Measured at Week 1 (pre-treatment) and at Week 10 (post-treatment)
Change in pre- vs. post-treatment scores on the Achenbach Rating Scales (Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self-Report)
Measures parent and child report of the presence of child behavior and emotional problems
Time frame: 10 weeks - Measured at Week 1 (pre-treatment) and at Week 10 (post-treatment)
Change in pre- vs. post-treatment scores on the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire
Measures five dimensions of parenting: positive involvement, supervision, positive discipline techniques, consistency in disciplining, and use of corporal punishment.
Time frame: 10 weeks - Measured at Week 1 (pre-treatment) and at Week 10 (post-treatment)
Parents' satisfaction with treatment, as measured by the Family Satisfaction Survey
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To assess parents' satisfaction with their participation in the UP-C intervention.
Time frame: 10 weeks - Measured at weeks 3, 7, and 10.
Treatment feasibility, as measured by the Family Satisfaction Survey and attendance rates
To evaluate parents' opinions about whether participation in a 10-week therapy group treatment is feasible and whether the interventions taught are feasible.
Time frame: 10 weeks