title: Effectiveness of telephone-assisted parent-administered behavioural family intervention for preschool children with externalizing problem behaviour: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Externalizing problem behaviour is one of the most common childhood disorders. Parent training is an effective treatment for these children and there is growing interest in the effects of parent-administered interventions with minimal therapist contact. This randomized controlled study examined the efficacy of a telephone-assisted parent-administered behavioural intervention (bibliotherapy) in families with preschool children with externalizing problem behaviour. Families were randomly assigned to a treatment group (n = 26) and an untreated waitlist control group (n = 22). The intervention comprised the reading of an 11 chapter self-help book and 11 weekly telephone consultations. Compared to the control group, the treatment group demonstrated significant decreases in parent-reported externalizing and internalizing child problem behaviour and dysfunctional parenting practices. Moreover, treated parents reported less parenting-related strains and decreases in parental depression, anxiety, and stress. The results suggest that telephone-assisted self-administered parent training is an effective alternative to more intensive forms of behavioural family intervention for preschool children with externalizing problem behaviour.
authors: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 10, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Frauke
authors: F
authors: Kierfeld
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Ise
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Hanisch
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Görtz-Dorten
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Döpfner
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001638:Bibliotherapy; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome