Transdiagnostic Group Intervention for Children With Behavior Problems

Implementation of a Transdiagnostic Group Intervention for Children With Behavior Problems Within a Pediatric Outpatient Setting

This study fills a notable gap in the transdiagnostic literature by evaluating whether an evidence-based transdiagnostic treatment for emotional disorders such as the Unified Protocol for Children (UP-C) is effective for treating childhood behavior problems.

By participating in the study, child participants will learn emotion regulation skills and have opportunities to interact and practice skills with other children who have similar problems. In addition, parent participants will learn effective parenting skills, including appropriate limit-setting, use of praise and consequences, and empathy, that may help them effectively navigate the challenges of caring for a child with behavior concerns (1). Parents will also have the opportunity to interact with other parents who face similar challenges, providing validation and support. Upon completion of the study, investigators plan to share these findings at professional conferences and submit manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals. Collectively, this study will add to the literature in the pediatric mental health field and may also serve as a model for other outpatient clinics regarding implementation and provision of a transdiagnostic approach to treat children with behavior problems. Thus, the main goals of the current study are to examine the effectiveness of the UP-C group treatment in reducing childhood behavior problems, evaluate parents' satisfaction with this treatment, and determine the feasibility of implementing this treatment in a pediatric outpatient setting.

Child participants with behavior problems between the ages of 8-12 and their caregivers will participate in a transdiagnostic group therapy protocol.

Participating children and their caregivers will attend 90-minute weekly group therapy sessions for 10 consecutive weeks.

Measures several transdiagnostic mechanisms including child emotional and behavioral symptoms, sleeping difficulties, and parenting practices.

Measures intensity of behavior related problems and degree to which these behaviors are viewed as problematic by parents.

Change in pre- vs. post-treatment scores on the Achenbach Rating Scales (Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self-Report)

Measures five dimensions of parenting: positive involvement, supervision, positive discipline techniques, consistency in disciplining, and use of corporal punishment.

To evaluate parents' opinions about whether participation in a 10-week therapy group treatment is feasible and whether the interventions taught are feasible.

Inclusion Criteria: Ages 8 - 12 years English speaking Primary Behavior Disorder At least 1 English-speaking parent/legal guardian who can provide informed consent for the child Parent/Legal Guardian must agree to participate in the Trial Exclusion Criteria: Child is: a ward of the state has active suicidal ideation has homicidal ideation has self-harm behaviors has an intellectual disability has a pervasive developmental disability or significant developmental delay has an active substance use disorder is currently participating in individual or group psychotherapy, or has participated in therapy within the past year has a sibling that is also enrolled in the study Parents/Legal Guardians that: are unwilling to participate in the study are non-English speaking have an intellectual disability have a pervasive developmental disability or a significant developmental delay do not have legal custody of the child participant do not reside in the same home as the child participant