title: A first-level evaluation of a family intervention for adolescent social, emotional and behavioural difficulties in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
abstract: This study is a first-level evaluation of a family intervention targeted at adolescents with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) attending Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Ireland. It is a combined implementation of the Working Things Out adolescent programme and the Parents Plus Adolescent Programme (WTOPPAP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 93 adolescents aged 11-17 years (M = 14.64, SD = 1.31; 39% male) and their parents took part in the study. The study used a quasi-experimental One-Group Pretest-Posttest design to assess change from pre- to post-intervention using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the McMaster General Functioning Scale, Goal Attainment, Parent Stress Scale and the Kansas Parenting Satisfaction Scale. Both parent- and adolescent-rated goal attainment and general family functioning improved from pre- to post-intervention. Parents also rated their satisfaction with parenting as having significantly improved. Adolescent-rated emotional difficulties significantly improved for the overall sample and parent-rated child total difficulties for female adolescents significantly improved from pre-test to post-test. Parents of female adolescents also reported a significant drop in parental stress. These findings indicate that the WTOPPAP may be an effective intervention for adolescents with SEBD, particularly females, and their parents. Further implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Parents Plus Charity , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Ciara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wynne
authors.affiliation: a Parents Plus Charity , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Caoimhe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.affiliation: b University College Dublin , Belfield, Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.affiliation: a Parents Plus Charity , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brosnan
authors.affiliation: a Parents Plus Charity , Dublin , Ireland.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002662:Child Health Services; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy