Citation

Lieberman AF, Ghosh Ippen C, Van Horn P. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 2006; 45(8): 913-918.

Affiliation

Child Trauma Research Project, San Francisco General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. alicia.lieberman@ucsf.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/01.chi.0000222784.03735.92

PMID

16865033

Abstract

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.

Language: en