Child-parent psychotherapy: 6-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the durability of improvement in child and maternal symptoms 6 months after termination of child-parent psychotherapy (CPP).


METHODS
Seventy-five multiethnic preschool-age child-mother dyads from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds were randomly assigned to (1) CPP or (2) case management plus community referral for individual treatment. Children were 3 to 5 years old. Follow-up assessments were conducted 6 months after the end of a 1-year treatment period. Mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist and the Symptom Checklist Revised to assess child's and mother's symptoms.


RESULTS
For treatment completers, general linear model (GLM) repeated-measures analyses support the durability of CPP with significant group x time interactions for children's total behavior problems and mothers' general distress. Intent-to-treat analyses revealed similar findings for children's behavior problems but were not significant for maternal symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings provide additional evidence of the efficacy and durability of CPP with this population and highlight the importance of a relationship focus in the treatment of traumatized preschoolers.
Lieberman
Alicia F
AF
From the Child Trauma Research Project, San Francisco General Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco.. Electronic address: alicia.lieberman@ucsf.edu.
Ghosh Ippen
Chandra
C
From the Child Trauma Research Project, San Francisco General Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco.
VAN Horn
Patricia
P
From the Child Trauma Research Project, San Francisco General Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco.
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*