title: Early intervention for at risk children: 3-year follow-up.
abstract: Childhood behavioral and emotional symptoms are linked with distress and dysfunction that may persist into adulthood. Effective and practical early prevention could make a significant contribution to the well-being of individuals and the functioning of communities. School-based targeted interventions are relatively easy and inexpensive to deliver and have been shown to reduce symptoms in the short term. The current study evaluates the 2- and 3-year outcome of targeted school-based drama group therapy (DGT) as compared to teaching maths and English. It shows a rapid decline in teacher-observed behavioral symptoms following DGT. By a year post intervention, symptom rates following both interventions converged and remained low throughout follow-up. Drama group therapy is rapidly effective in reducing symptoms. However, the findings also suggest that despite differing content, school-based small-group interventions are likely to share some effective components.
authors.affiliation: University Of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. mcardlep@binternet.com
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Toby
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quibell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: LeCouteur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome