Child-Parent Psychotherapy: 6-Month Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
LIEBERMAN, ALICIA F. Ph.D.; GHOSH IPPEN, CHANDRA Ph.D.; VAN HORN, PATRICIA J.D., Ph.D.
[Article] Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 45(8):913-918, August 2006.

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Objective: To examine the durability of improvement in child and maternal symptoms 6 months after termination of child-parent psychotherapy (CPP).

Method: Seventy-five multiethnic preschool-age child-mother dyads from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds were randomly assigned to (1) CPP or (2) case management plus community referral for individual treatment. Children were 3 to 5 years old. Follow-up assessments were conducted 6 months after the end of a 1-year treatment period. Mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist and the Symptom Checklist Revised to assess child's and mother's symptoms.

Results: For treatment completers, general linear model (GLM) repeated-measures analyses support the durability of CPP with significant group x time interactions for children's total behavior problems and mothers' general distress. Intent-to-treat analyses revealed similar findings for children's behavior problems but were not significant for maternal symptoms.

Conclusions: The findings provide additional evidence of the efficacy and durability of CPP with this population and highlight the importance of a relationship focus in the treatment of traumatized preschoolers.

Copyright 2006 (C) American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry