One-year follow-up of a parent management training for children with externalizing behaviour problems in the real world.
BACKGROUND
The long-term effectiveness of parent training for children with externalizing behaviour problems under routine care within the German health care system is unclear. We report the 1-year follow-up results of the parent training component of the Prevention Program for Externalizing Problem Behaviour (PEP) for 270 children aged 3-10 years with externalizing behaviour problems.


METHODS
Outcome measures included child behaviour problems (externalizing behaviour problems, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms and Oppositional Defiant Disorder symptoms) and parenting (self efficacy of parenting and perceived ability to solve difficult parenting situations). Data were analysed using multilevel modelling.


RESULTS
Comparison of the changes during the 3-month waiting and treatment periods revealed significantly stronger treatment effects on all outcome measures, indicating a substantial decrease in child behaviour problems and a significant increase in parenting due to treatment. At 1-year follow-up, initial treatment effects on child behaviour problems were maintained, while parenting continued to improve.


CONCLUSIONS
Families whose children exhibited externalizing problem behaviour profit from PEP and improvements are maintained for at least one year.
Hautmann
Christopher
C
University of Cologne, Germany.
Hoijtink
Herbert
H
Eichelberger
Ilka
I
Hanisch
Charlotte
C
Plück
Julia
J
Walter
Daniel
D
Döpfner
Manfred
M
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*