Five- to six-year outcome and its prediction for children with ODD/CD treated with parent training.
BACKGROUND
While short-term effects of parent training (PT) have been extensively evaluated, long-term outcome and present predictors of a diagnosis for children with ODD/CD treated with parent training are very limited.


METHODS
In the present study, diagnostic status as outcome and predictors of treatment response were examined in a 5-6-year follow-up. Out of 99 children who had been treated in a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effects of The Incredible Years parent training (PT) or combined parent training and child treatment (PT+CT) programme, 54.5% participated in the 5-6-year follow-up study. Their diagnostic status was determined with the Kiddie-SADS interview.


RESULTS
While all children qualified for a diagnosis of ODD/CD before treatment, 5-6 years later, two-thirds no longer received such a diagnosis, the same proportion as found at the 1-year follow-up. The most powerful pre-treatment predictors of diagnostic status at the 5-6-year follow-up were living with mother only and being a girl. At post-treatment the most powerful predictor was found to be high levels of child externalising problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the study support the maintenance of positive long-term results for young children treated with parent training because of serious conduct problems, and identify characteristics of children and families in need of added support to parent training programmes.
Drugli
May Britt
MB
Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway. may.b.drugli@ntnu.no
Larsson
Bo
B
Fossum
Sturla
S
Mørch
Willy-Tore
WT
D000293:Adolescent; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D015406:Single Parent / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome