title: Attachment and conduct disorder: the Response Program.
abstract: An increasing number of youths are being identified as suffering from behavioural problems that cause difficulties in their family and peer relations which in turn reduces their chances of academic and vocational success. There is growing concern regarding their level of aggressiveness. The common diagnosis given to these disaffiliated youths is conduct disorder. To date, most treatment programs for conduct disorder have been unsuccessful. A review of recent studies indicates that the disruption of attachment may be an important feature that underlies the wide range of symptoms that are typically found in youths with conduct disorder. A community-oriented program designed to ensure long term care for these youths is described in this paper, and the findings of a six month follow-up evaluation are presented. Results indicated that communities, caregivers, and youths responded positively to the program; caregivers reported significant reductions in a broad range of psychiatric symptoms in youths, and youths reported a significant reduction in symptoms of conduct disorder.
authors.affiliation: Response Program, Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre, Burnaby, British Columbia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verlaan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007872:Legal Guardians; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010553:Personality Development; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012144:Respite Care / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment