Self-administered videotape therapy for families with conduct-problem children: Comparison with two cost-effective treatments and a control group.

There were relatively few differences between treatment groups on most outcome measures, although the differences found consistently favored the GDVM treatment, and cost effectiveness was the major advantage of the IVM treatment.

Abstract

Parents of 114 conduct-problem children, aged 3-8 years, were randomly assigned to one of four groups: an individually administered videotape modeling treatment (IVM), a group discussion videotape modeling treatment (GDVM).a group discussion treatment (GD), and a waiting-list control group.Compared ~4th the control group, all three treatment groups of mothers reported significantly fewer child behavior problems, more prosocial behaviors, and less spanking.Fathers in the GDVM and IVM conditions and teachers of children whose parents were in the GDVM and GD conditions also reported significant reductions in behavior problems compared ~4th control subjects.Home visit data indicated that all treatment groups of mothers, fathers, and children exhibited significant behavioral changes.There were relatively few differences between treatment groups on most outcome measures, although the differences found consistently favored the GDVM treatment.However, cost effectiveness was the major advantage of the IVM treatment.Childhood conduct problems are prevalent and far reaching.Approximately two thirds of all young children who are referred to mental health agencies are eventually labeled antisocial.oppositional, or conduct disordered.Moreover, the prevalence of such children is increasing and creates a need that far exceeds available personnel and resources (President's Commission on Mental Health, 1978).The need to help families with conduct-problem children is particularly important because studies have shown that these children are at an increased risk not only for being abused by their parents (Burgess & Conger, 1978;Patterson, 1977: Reid, Taplin, & Loeber, 1981) but also for developing psychiatric disabilities as adults, particularly those evidenced by juvenile delinquency and crime (Loeber, 1985;Patterson, 1974;Robins, 1978Robins, , 1981;;Rutter & Geller, 1983).Over the past decade, many treatment programs have focused on training parents to be the therapists for their conductproblem children.Several excellent literature reviews (Berkowitz & Graziano, 1972;Moreland, Schwebel, Beck, & Wells, 1982) have indicated that conduct-problem children show significant improvements following parent-training programs.