Improving child and parenting outcomes following paediatric acquired brain injury: a randomised controlled trial of Stepping Stones Triple P plus Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Eczema Management Program for Children With Eczema: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

Eczema significantly affects the quality of life of affected children and their families, with psychological stress often overlooked. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) provides a supplementary approach to address these psychological challenges and enhance overall care.

OBJECTIVE

This pilot randomised controlled trial aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of the Family ACT-based Eczema Management Program (FACT-EMP).

METHODS

Parents and children aged 6-12 diagnosed with eczema from three outpatient clinics in Hong Kong were randomly assigned to either the FACT-EMP group, receiving four weekly ACT-based sessions plus eczema management education, or a waitlist control group receiving routine care. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through recruitment, retention and completion rates, supplemented by focus group feedback on parental experiences. Primary clinical outcomes were children's eczema Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) and parental self-efficacy. Secondary outcomes included parental distress, quality of life, psychological flexibility and self-compassion of both parents and children.

RESULTS

From July 2021 to June 2023, 181 of 944 screened parent-child dyads met the inclusion criteria, and 78 were randomised and analysed (parents' mean [SD] age, 41.3 [11.0] years; 70 mothers [89.7%]; children's mean [SD] age, 8.3 [1.9] years; 53 boys [67.9%]). Recruitment, retention and completion rates were 43.1%, 87.2% and 76.9%, respectively. No significant between-group differences in SCORAD scores were observed immediately post-intervention. At 3-month post-intervention, SCORAD scores decreased significantly more in the FACT-EMP group than in the waitlist control group (adjusted mean difference, aMD, -7.73; 95% CI, -13.92 to -1.54). Parental self-efficacy scores also improved significantly more in the FACT-EMP group than the control, with an aMD of 18.69 (95% CI, 13.80 to 33.58) immediately post-intervention and 28.90 (95% CI, 13.93 to 43.84) at 3 months.

CONCLUSION

FACT-EMP is potentially feasible, acceptable and effective in improving children's eczema symptoms and enhancing parents' self-efficacy in disease management over 3 months.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04919330.

Transactional processes matter: experiences between parents of children with acquired brain injury and health and education providers

PURPOSE

Little is known about how parents' transactions with health and educational professionals shape their experience of these systems, and impact on capacities to support their child with acquired brain injury (ABI). We explored experiences of specific transactions and perceptions of impact.

METHODS

A focus group and individual interviews were conducted with seven parents of children in the chronic phase of recovery following ABI. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.

RESULTS

Four superordinate themes were identified: "These Encounters Matter," "A Person not a Number-Interpersonal Skills that Count," "The Blind Leading the Blind," and "Becoming the Backbone." Findings highlighted that these transactions mattered to parents, promoting either distress or empowerment. Positive outcomes were characterized by transactions related to communication, empathy, trust, collaboration, and connection. However, there was a perception of the "blind leading the blind" and that ultimately parents needed to enter such transactions armed with knowledge and their own therapeutic goals.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings unpack contextual and transactional elements of parents' experiences with health and education professionals which empower or distress. Understanding and improving these processes is important, given the central role families play in child outcomes following ABI. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

[Formula: see text] Interventions to improve executive functions in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury: a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis

To investigate the effectiveness of interventions aiming to improve hot and cold executive functions (EFs) in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI) and to examine whether characteristics of the intervention, participants, etiology of ABI (Traumatic-brain-injury [TBI] or non-TBI), time of assessment, or study quality moderate intervention effects. Whereas cold EFs refer to purely cognitive EFs, hot EFs refer to the affective aspects of these cognitive skills. A total of 970 participants from 23 randomized-controlled-trial studies (112 effect sizes [ES]) were included. A three-level random effects approach (studies, ES, individual participants) was used. Moderation analyses were conducted through meta-regressions. The three-level random effects model showed a better fit than the two-level model. Almost all individual studies showed non-significant ES across outcomes but in combination interventions were effective (Cohen's d = 0.38, CI 0.16 ~ 0.61). Lower methodological quality, inclusion of participants with non-TBI, and parental participation predicted larger ES. Participants' age, time of assessment, number of sessions, and focus on hot or cold EFs were not related to ES. We found no evidence of publication bias. Interventions are effective with small to medium ES according to conventional criteria. Intervention effects do not seem to fade away with time. Parent participation in the intervention is important to improve EFs. The efficacy of interventions seems larger when non-TBI is part of the etiology of ABI. Variation between studies is relevant for tracing the effective intervention characteristics. Most studies are conducted in adolescence, and studies in early childhood are needed.

Supporting caregivers of children with developmental disabilities: Findings from a brief caregiver well-being programme in South Africa

LAY ABSTRACT

Young children with developmental disabilities and delays who live in low- and middle-income countries are at significant risk of not reaching their full potential. We know that daily interactions with their caregivers (parents or other people taking care of them) play an important role in promoting their development. However, having a child with developmental disabilities can have a negative impact on carers' mental health and well-being, which in turn can influence their capacity to care for their children. To date, very little attention has been given to the caregivers' capacity to care. The World Health Organization developed a Caregiver Skills Training programme which includes a brief, three-session module that focuses on improving caregivers' well-being and mental health. This well-being programme is based on acceptance and commitment therapy. Acceptance and commitment therapy shows increasing evidence of helping people respond to their stressors, thoughts, feelings and experiences a little differently and commit to small changes that are in line with their personal values. Acceptance and commitment therapy has shown promise in improving feelings of well-being in caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. We adapted the World Health Organization Caregiver Skills Training Caregiver well-being module to suit the South African context. The resultant 'Well Beans for Caregivers' was then delivered to caregivers from a rural, low-resource setting in South Africa. We found the intervention easy to implement, highly acceptable to caregivers and showed promising impacts on caregivers' well-being and mental health. This intervention has the potential to be implemented widely and sustainably to build caregivers' capacity to care for their children.

Conceptual, Psychometric, Methodological and Value Problems in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Introduction to the Special Section, "A Critical Appraisal of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy"

There is a voluminous and expanding literature regarding ACT, from descriptions of its theory to its stated roots in relational frame theory, the particulars of its therapy techniques and exercises, favored metaphors, randomized controlled trials, to many self-help books for a wide variety of problems. The therapy is widely marketed through workshops and many self-help books. ACT is associated with its own journal and its own professional organization, the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). This literature is interpreted by ACT proponents as demonstrating the causal efficacy of ACT for a wide range of problems and, at times, even being superior to treatment as usual, which are often more traditional forms of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). This special section contains a series of 6 papers examining these claims. Correctly understanding and evaluating the claims of ACT proponents is warranted because these can have direct implications for treatment decisions by therapists attempting to deliver the most effective treatment for their clients' problems. The papers, individually and as a whole, urge considerable caution, particularly because much of its research has involved serious measurement problems, problematic research designs, and a unique and problematic conceptualization and perhaps the practice of values and ethics. These papers call for methodological improvements and a commitment to more traditional values associated with science so that ACT can be more fairly evaluated to accurately understand its assets and limitations.

Psychological flexibility of parents of children with disabilities: A systematic literature review

PURPOSE

Psychological flexibility, a popular concept in clinical psychology, is still evolving in the context of studying parents of children with disabilities. This study systematically reviewed the literature on the psychological flexibility of parents of children with disabilities to identify contributions of the literature and make recommendations for practice and future study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and identified studies on the psychological flexibility of parents of children with disabilities using five electronic databases: PsychNet, PubMed, ERIC, Social Services Abstracts, and EBSCO. Twenty-six articles met the criteria and were included. A thematic analysis was conducted to extract major themes.

RESULTS

Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) psychological flexibility is associated with various aspects of mental health; (2) psychological flexibility is associated with parental functioning in caring for children with a disability; (3) acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) based interventions effectively enhance the psychological flexibility of parents of children with disabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concludes that psychological flexibility is extremely relevant to disability studies and should be further explored in relation to different parental well-being and functioning aspects. Professionals are encouraged to incorporate principles of acceptance and commitment therapy into their work with parents of children with disabilities.

Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Version of the Parental Acceptance and Action Questionnaire in Parents with Infants and Toddlers

We aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Parental Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Japanese version (PAAQ-J). We considered a total of 2000 mothers with infants and toddlers aged 0-3 years and evaluated their scores on the PAAQ-J Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We conducted an exploratory factor analysis, creating a PAAQ-J with 12 items and three factors (α = 0.80): Inaction-Behavior, Inaction-Cognition, and Unwillingness, with α of 0.84, 0.72 and 0.68, respectively. The test-retest reliability examination results showed that the interclass correlation coefficient was 0.49, with 95% CI between 0.44 and 0.54. The correlation coefficient of PAAQ-J was 0.57, 0.32, and 0.33 with AAQ-II, and HADS-depression and HADS-anxiety, respectively. PAAQ-J's validity to adequately evaluate an individual's avoidance of experiences regarding childcare and their psychological flexibility was proven. Since the original PAAQ was for 6-18-year-old children with anxiety symptoms, it is necessary to examine its reliability and validity not only for infants and toddlers, but also for parents of older children and adolescents in the future.

Family-centred service in paediatric acquired brain injury rehabilitation: Bridging the gaps

Background

Children and adolescents who sustain an acquired brain injury (ABI) can experience acute and ongoing difficulties in a range of cognitive and functional domains, and their families often experience significant life changes and challenges. Family-centred service is therefore considered best practice in paediatric ABI rehabilitation. Despite widespread acceptance of family-centred service in this context, recent literature indicates that family needs are often unrecognised and unmet following paediatric ABI. Although family-centred service was introduced in the field of developmental disability over five decades ago, there remains a lack of clarity about how this approach is implemented in practice. Additionally, limited literature has discussed the implementation of family-centred service in paediatric ABI rehabilitation despite key differences between ABI and developmental disability, including nature and timing of onset, rehabilitation foci, and impacts on families.

Aims

In this review, we aim to: (i) outline common sequelae of paediatric ABI with a focus on family outcomes; (ii) summarise paediatric rehabilitation and highlight opportunities for family support and involvement; (iii) discuss and synthesise literature across paediatric ABI rehabilitation and family-centred service to highlight gaps in knowledge and practice; and (v) identify clinical implications and future research directions.

Conclusions

There is a clear need for greater clarity and consensus regarding the implementation of family-centred service in paediatric ABI rehabilitation. This review highlights the importance of providing professional development opportunities for clinicians to increase competency in practising in a family-centred manner, and opportunities to actively involve, empower and support families within rehabilitation. This review also emphasises the importance of services implementing relevant supports to address family needs where possible and developing clear referral pathways so that families can access further support elsewhere when needed.

Exploring the measurement of pediatric cognitive-communication disorders in traumatic brain injury research: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize information about the constructs measured, measurement instruments used, and the timing of assessment of cognitive-communication disorders (CCDs) in pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) research.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Scoping review conducted in alignment with Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage methodological framework and reported per the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews. Inclusion criteria: (a) cohort description, case-control, and treatment studies; (b) participants with TBI aged 5-18 years; (c) communication or psychosocial outcomes; and (d) English full-text journal articles. The first author reviewed all titles, abstracts, and full-text articles; 10% were independently reviewed.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

Following screening, a total of 687 articles were included and 919 measurement instruments, measuring 2134 unique constructs, were extracted. The Child Behavior Checklist was the most used measurement instrument and 'Global Outcomes/Recovery' was the construct most frequently measured. The length of longitudinal monitoring ranged between ≤3 months and 16 years.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

We found considerable heterogeneity in the constructs measured, the measurement instruments used, and the timing of CCD assessment in pediatric TBI research. A consistent approach to measurement may support clinical decision-making and the efficient use of data beyond individual studies in systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Parent Interventions Improve Behavior After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To examine child behavior change scores from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of parent interventions for pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched to identify studies that examined parent interventions for pediatric TBI. Inclusion criteria included (i) a parent intervention for children with TBI; (ii) an RCT study design; (iii) statistical data for child behavior outcome(s); and (iv) studies that were published in English.

RESULTS

Seven studies met inclusion criteria. All interventions reported improved child behavior after pediatric TBI; however, child and parent factors contributed to behavior change scores in some interventions. Factors found to contribute to the level of benefit included age of child, baseline behavior levels, sociodemographics (eg, parent income, parent education), and parent mental health.

CONCLUSION

Improved child behavior outcomes resulting from parent interventions for pediatric TBI are well supported by the evidence in the peer-reviewed literature. Clinicians are encouraged to consider child and parent factors as they relate to child behavior outcomes.

A new model to guide identity-focused multidisciplinary rehabilitation for children and young people following acquired brain injury: I-FoRM

A complexity of biological, psychological, environmental and systemic factors influences a child's adaption after acquired brain injury (ABI), all of which transform as the child matures. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams are challenged by balancing family system needs and the child's needs, whilst promoting the child's functional skills in difficult or unappealing tasks. This paper presents the conceptual basis for a model for use in childhood ABI neurorehabilitation to address these challenges. A non-systematic narrative review of literature pertinent to integrated neurorehabilitation of pediatric ABI was conducted. Contemporary models of adult and pediatric psychosocial adaptation involving identity following ABI were reviewed. Key findings were then synthesized with models of pediatric resilience and self-concept development. The resulting model describes a cyclical adaptation process whereby the child learns experientially about their self and their world after ABI. Processes of identity development play a central role - particularly emotive processes of self-evaluation - by influencing the child's motivation for participation, tolerance for challenge, self-regulation and emerging self-awareness. The model directs clinicians to use the psychosocial processes of identity development to enhance the child's willingness and capacity to engage in the daily challenges of rehabilitation. Further systematic development and evaluation of the model is needed.

Psychosocial Intervention Outcomes for Children with Congenital and Neonatal Conditions: Systematic Review

 

There has been a historic lack of psychosocially geared treatment studies for congenital and neonatal conditions that impact brain development, despite well-established knowledge that these conditions impact cognitive development, quality of life (QoL), mental health, and academic success.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to systematically investigate the research literature focusing on the effects of interventions in psychosocially geared programs for children with neonatal brain injury on school and psychological outcomes.

METHODS

Psychosocially geared programs broadly refer to interventions to improve parenting and school functioning, or child behavior, as well as other interventions that have a psychological component but may be more physically oriented, such as goal-directed physiotherapy. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, PsychINFO, and Embase was completed between June and July 2020. The methodological quality of included articles was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials (RoB-2).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria and demonstrated adequate risk of bias (i.e., low risk of bias or some concerns). The studies included family (n = 2), parenting (n = 7), and child (n = 10) interventions. There is some evidence supporting the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for children with neonatal brain injury and their families on academic outcomes, behavior, and QoL, indicated by positive intervention effects in 65% (n = 13) of studies.

Psychological Interventions for Individuals With Acquired Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, and Spina Bifida: A Scoping Review

Background

With current medical advancements, more adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders are transitioning from child- to adult-centred health care services. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for transitional services to help navigate this transition. Health care transitions can be further complicated by mental health challenges prevalent among individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), spina bifida (SB), and childhood onset acquired brain injury (ABI). Offering evidence-based psychological interventions for these populations may improve overall outcomes during transition period(s) and beyond. The objective of this scoping review is to identify key characteristics of psychological interventions being used to treat the mental health challenges of adolescents and adults with CP, SB, and childhood onset ABI.

Methods

Methodological frameworks by Arksey and O'Malley, and Levac and colleagues were used to explore studies published between 2009 and 2019. Included studies were required to be written in English and report on a psychological intervention(s) administered to individuals at least 12 years of age with a diagnosis of CP, SB, or childhood onset ABI. All study designs were included.

Results

A total of 11 studies were identified. Of these, eight reported psychological interventions for childhood onset ABI, while three reported on CP. No studies reporting on SB were identified. Commonly used interventions included acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Conclusions

There are a limited number of studies investigating psychological interventions for individuals with childhood onset ABI and CP, and none for individuals with SB. Further research into effective psychological interventions for these populations will improve mental health outcomes and transitional services.

Couple and family interventions for high mortality health conditions: A strategic review (2010-2019)

The earliest publications in the field of marriage and family therapy introduced interventions conducted with families experiencing complex health conditions. This strategic review captures an evaluation of efficacy for 87 couple and family interventions published between 2010 and 2019 with a focus on the leading causes of mortality in the United States. These health conditions include chromosomal anomalies and accidents with infants aged 0-4 years; accidents and cancer among children aged 5-14; accidents among adolescents aged 15-24; and heart disease, cancer, accidents, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, influenza/pneumonia, and nephritis/nephrosis among adults 25 and older. Results support the need for greater inclusion of couples and families in assessments and interventions. The greatest chasm in efficacy research was with minoritized couples and families. Implications include ways to initiate couple and family interventions in the context of health conditions with attention given to accessibility, recruitment, retention, and evaluation.

A systematic review of the use of acceptance and commitment therapy in supporting parents

OBJECTIVES

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has accrued a growing evidence-base for a wide variety of psychological difficulties. Given that ACT promotes broad and flexible repertoires of behaviour as well as neutralizing the ubiquitous psychological processes theorized to be responsible for much human suffering, such an approach may hold promise. The use of ACT-informed parenting interventions offers another alternative to solely behavioural approaches but it remains relatively understudied and in need of further exploration.

DESIGN

The current systematic review, which searched four databases, aimed to collate all ACT interventions that included parental therapeutic components in the treatment of various child presenting difficulties. The review also rated the methodological rigour of the ACT evidence-base for this type of treatment format.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven individual studies covering a broad spectrum of presenting problems were included, comprising of 1,155 participants. A large proportion of studies were within-group designs with a smaller number using randomized controlled trials. The majority of studies reported improvements on either parent report symptoms regarding child physical or psychological functioning as well as parent-reported measures of stress, depression, and anxiety. Similar improvements were noted on a number of ACT mechanisms of change outcomes, including mindfulness, acceptance, and cognitive fusing. These gains were evident for parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, chronic pain, and significant physical health difficulties. Maintenance or further treatment gains were often reported at follow-up. These positive findings are tempered by low levels of methodological rigour common in some of the studies included.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite these limitations, ACT holds promise as a transdiagnostic intervention that can help with the parenting of children with a range of psychological and physical difficulties.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

ACT has accrued a relatively strong evidence base for a range of psychological difficulties. Despite some methodological shortcomings, ACT shows promise as an intervention to help parents manage stress and difficulties especially in relation to children with autism, chronic pain, and physical health needs. Further research is required in comparing ACT to more established treatments and helping consolidate initial positive findings.

Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy programme 'Happiness Mom' for well-being: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

This randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to examine the effects of an internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) programme ('Happiness Mom') on the psychological well-being of working mothers.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The target population of the RCT will be employed mothers with at least one preschool child. Participants who fulfil the study's eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned either to an iACT intervention group (n=200) or to a wait-list control group (n=200). Participants in the intervention groups will be asked to complete the programme within 12 weeks of the baseline survey. The intervention programme contains eight modules based on ACT. Primary outcomes are six components of psychological well-being, based on Ryff's theory. Secondary outcomes are intention to leave their job, work engagement, work performance, sick leave days, psychological distress, euthymia, positive emotions, job and life satisfaction, social support and parental burn-out.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the Research Ethics Review Board of Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo (No. 2019134NI). If the intervention programmes are found to be significantly beneficial, the programmes can be made available for all working mothers with preschool children in Japan.

DISCUSSION

This study will contribute to the development of an internet-based self-care programme that is effective, feasible, low cost and accessible to improve the well-being of working mothers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000039918.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for psychological and behavioural changes among parents of children with chronic health conditions: A systematic review

AIMS

To systematically identify the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy among parents of children with chronic health conditions and determine its effectiveness in parental psychological flexibility, psychological distress and parenting behaviour.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

DATA SOURCES

Nine databases (i.e. MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and WanFang Data) were systematically searched from inception to October 2019.

REVIEW METHODS

Quality of studies was appraised by using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. Findings were synthesized narratively. This work was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement.

RESULTS

Eight studies involving 485 parents were included. Results indicated that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy significantly improved parental psychological flexibility and reduced psychological distress compared with usual care and waitlist, but was not significantly different from active treatments. Limited studies have provided very preliminary evidence that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can significantly improve dysfunctional parenting behaviour than usual care and waitlist. High attrition rate at follow-up made the overall confidence of maintained effect relatively low.

CONCLUSION

This review provides preliminary evidence that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is beneficial for improving psychological flexibility, psychological distress and parenting behaviour among parents of children with chronic health conditions. Future studies with rigorous designs and large sample sizes are warranted to verify the evidence and explore its long-term efficacy.

IMPACT

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been increasingly applied to parents of children with chronic health conditions. This review provides positive evidence of its effects on psychological and behavioural outcomes among these parents. This work will help healthcare professionals and researchers with their practice and further research.

A Longitudinal Assessment of Parenting Stress in Parents of Children with New-Onset Epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

Parents of children with newly diagnosed epilepsy may experience elevated parenting stress. The present study examined trajectories of parenting stress over time and identified modifiable predictors of these trajectories.

METHODS

Parents of youth with epilepsy (N = 102; 2-12 years old) completed questionnaires 1, 4, 13, 19, and 25-months post-diagnosis, including measures of parenting stress, family functioning, child psychosocial functioning, sociodemographics, and perceived stigma. Latent growth curve models (LGCM) were used to examine domains of parenting stress over time.

RESULTS

At baseline, 25-48% of parents reported elevated parenting stress. LGCMs revealed that the parent and child domains of parenting stress were generally stable across time. However, life stress was more variable across time, and parents with higher initial life stress had a greater reduction in life stress over time. Socioeconomic status was identified as a non-modifiable predictor of life stress. Family functioning was associated with greater parenting stress in the parent domain. Child psychosocial functioning was associated with greater parenting stress in the parent and child domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Parenting stress was elevated for a subset of families and appeared to be relatively stable over time, with the exception of life stress, which was more variable. With early screening, child factors and parent appraisals of epilepsy may be valuable targets for clinical intervention with families of children with epilepsy.

Interventions to improve the mental health of children and young people with long-term physical conditions: linked evidence syntheses

BACKGROUND

Although mental health difficulties can severely complicate the lives of children and young people (CYP) with long-term physical conditions (LTCs), there is a lack of evidence about the effectiveness of interventions to treat them.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions aiming to improve the mental health of CYP with LTCs (review 1) and explore the factors that may enhance or limit their delivery (review 2).

DATA SOURCES

For review 1, 13 electronic databases were searched, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Science Citation Index. For review 2, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched. Supplementary searches, author contact and grey literature searches were also conducted.

REVIEW METHODS

The first systematic review sought randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and economic evaluations of interventions to improve elevated symptoms of mental ill health in CYP with LTCs. Effect sizes for each outcome were calculated post intervention (Cohen's d). When appropriate, random-effects meta-analyses produced pooled effect sizes (d). Review 2 located primary qualitative studies exploring experiences of CYP with LTCs, their families and/or practitioners, regarding interventions aiming to improve the mental health and well-being of CYP with LTCs. Synthesis followed the principles of metaethnography. An overarching synthesis integrated the findings from review 1 and review 2 using a deductive approach. End-user involvement, including topic experts and CYP with LTCs and their parents, was a feature throughout the project.

RESULTS

Review 1 synthesised 25 RCTs evaluating 11 types of intervention, sampling 12 different LTCs. Tentative evidence from seven studies suggests that cognitive-behavioural therapy interventions could improve the mental health of CYP with certain LTCs. Intervention-LTC dyads were diverse, with few opportunities to meta-analyse. No economic evaluations were located. Review 2 synthesised 57 studies evaluating 21 types of intervention. Most studies were of individuals with cancer, a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or mixed LTCs. Interventions often aimed to improve broader mental health and well-being, rather than symptoms of mental health disorder. The metaethnography identified five main constructs, described in an explanatory line of argument model of the experience of interventions. Nine overarching synthesis categories emerged from the integrated evidence, raising implications for future research.

LIMITATIONS

Review 1 conclusions were limited by the lack of evidence about intervention effectiveness. No relevant economic evaluations were located. There were no UK studies included in review 1, limiting the applicability of findings. The mental health status of participants in review 2 was usually unknown, limiting comparability with review 1. The different evidence identified by the two systematic reviews challenged the overarching synthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a relatively small amount of comparable evidence for the effectiveness of interventions for the mental health of CYP with LTCs. Qualitative evidence provided insight into the experiences that intervention deliverers and recipients valued. Future research should evaluate potentially effective intervention components in high-quality RCTs integrating process evaluations. End-user involvement enriched the project.

STUDY REGISTRATION

This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42011001716.

FUNDING

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula.

ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): a randomised controlled trial of an innovative intervention for infants at risk of autism spectrum disorder

INTRODUCTION

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with impacts on behaviour, cognition, communication, social interaction and family mental health. This paper reports the protocol of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a very early intervention, ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), for families of infants at risk of ASD.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We aim to recruit 66 mothers of infants at risk of ASD (ie, infants with a sibling or parent diagnosed with ASD) to this RCT. Families will be randomly assigned to care-as-usual or ENACT. ENACT is a very early intervention, leveraging parent-child interactions to improve early social reciprocity, while supporting parental mental health and the parent-child relationship through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Intervention content is delivered online (approximately 8 hours) and supported by more than 7 consultations with a clinician. Parents will perform the social reciprocity intervention with their child (30 min per day). Assessments at four time points (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months corrected age) will assess parent-infant interaction, parental mental health, infant development and early ASD markers. Analysis will be by intention to treat using general linear models for RCTs.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This protocol has been approved by the Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/19/QCHQ/50131) and the University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee (2019000558). If efficacy is demonstrated, the intervention has the potential for wide and accessible dissemination.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618002046280).

The role of parental psychological flexibility in childhood asthma management: An analysis of cross-lagged panel models

OBJECTIVE

This is a secondary analysis of a previously reported randomized controlled trial, aimed at examining the mediating role of parental psychological flexibility (PF) in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based childhood asthma management program for parents.

METHODS

The participants were 168 parents (mean age (SD) = 38.40 (5.90) years; 88.1% mothers) and their children who had been diagnosed with asthma (mean age (SD) = 6.81 (2.50) years; 62% boys). They were randomly allocated to either the program composed of a four-session, group-based ACT plus asthma education (ACT Group) or to a group-based asthma education talk plus three telephone follow-ups (Control Group). The parents underwent assessments at baseline, and immediately, 3-months, and 6-months after the intervention for the following outcomes: PF (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II), psychological distress of the parents (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21); and the asthma symptoms and use of inhaled bronchodilators of their children.

RESULTS

Cross-lagged panel models showed that the improvement in parental PF at post-intervention mediated the effect of ACT on reducing parental psychological distress (all beta coefficients (βs) ranged from -2.20 to - 2.30, all Ps < 0.01) and childhood asthma symptoms in terms of daytime symptoms (β = -0.22, 95% CI [-0.52, -0.02], P = 0.04), nighttime symptoms (β = -0.17, 95% CI [-0.33, -0.02], P = 0.04), and the use of bronchodilators (β = -0.22, 95% CI [-0.48, -0.02], P = 0.03) at 6-months post-intervention.

CONCLUSION

ACT makes a unique contribution to improving the health outcomes of parents and their children diagnosed with asthma through fostering parental PF.

A Parenting Program to Reduce Disruptive Behavior in Hispanic Children with Acquired Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial Conducted in Mexico

Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) are at risk of impairments in self-regulation and disruptive behavior. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Signposts program to reduce disruptive behavior and improve self-regulation in Hispanic children with ABI, and reduce parental stress and improve parenting practices. Using a randomized controlled trial design, we assigned children (n = 71) and their parents to Signposts or generic telephone support. Blinded assessors conducted assessments at pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention. Signposts was effective in reducing dysfunctional parenting practices. Further, when analyzing participants at risk of behavioral disturbance (n = 46), Signposts was effective in reducing child disruptive behavior in the home environment and emotional self-regulation. No differences were found for parental stress, parent sense of competence, child disruptive behaviors at school, and child cognitive and behavioral self-regulation. The reduction in disruptive behavior was associated with the implementation of authoritative parenting practices (external regulation), and not associated with child self-regulation.

Exploring the role of perceived vs. observed behavioral outcomes in parental grief reaction following pediatric acquired brain injury

BACKGROUND

Pediatric acquired brain injury may result in a significant gap between the "pre" and "post-injury" child.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to quantitatively explore the mechanism underlying parents' loss experience by examining the mediating role of behavioral outcomes (observed-problems and perceived-change) in the relationship between injury severity and grief.

METHOD

The study employed a cross-sectional retrospective design and comprised 40 parents of children (aged 3-18 years) with moderate-severe brain injury. Data for each parent included an adapted version of the Two-Track Bereavement Questionnaire and Socio-demographics; Data for each child included the child's Information Processing Speed Index; the Child Behavioral Checklist and Parental Perception of Behavioral Changes scale.

RESULTS

Slowed information processing speed was significantly associated with elevated ratings on both measures of behavioral outcomes and with intensified grief. Mediation analyses revealed that parental perceived behavioral change, significantly mediate the relationship between information processing speed and grief; the Child Behavioral Checklist total score also mediated the same relationship but only in 90% confidence interval.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings reveal the adverse impact of behavioral outcomes on grief and suggest parents' loss experience to be stemming primarily from their subjective perception over their "changed-child", rather than the observed problems. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Trajectories in health recovery in the 12 months following a mild traumatic brain injury in children: findings from the BIONIC Study

INTRODUCTION There is growing consensus that adverse child outcomes may be evident in the early recovery phase following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, controversy remains around the nature of children's longer-term recovery. AIM To examine child cognitive, behavioural and quality-of-life outcomes over 12 months following mild injury, and to identify prognostic factors associated with outcomes. METHODS A prospective sample of 222 children (aged 2-15 years at injury) with mild TBI was assessed using a cognitive testing battery and parent-report questionnaires at ≤ 14 days, 1, 6 and/or 12-months post-injury. RESULTS Parents reported significant improvements in their child's behavioural adjustment between baseline and 6 months (P = 0.003), with further improvements at 12 months following injury (P = 0.001). Cognitive recovery and quality-of-life improvements were more gradual with minimal changes in the first month (P > 0.05), but significant improvements by 12-months post-injury (P = 0.03, P = 0.02, respectively). Time since injury, male gender, living rurally and parent anxiety were associated with extent of recovery beyond the acute period. CONCLUSIONS Children's recovery from mild TBI continues beyond the initial 6 months following injury. Health-care providers need to be vigilant about the varying trajectories in children's recovery from TBI. On-going monitoring of children following injury will enable timely and proactive responses to persistent difficulties, with a view to minimising longer-term adverse consequences.

A Systematic Review of Interventions for Hot and Cold Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents With Acquired Brain Injury

Objective

We investigated interventions, which aimed to improve cold and hot executive functions (EFs) in children and adolescents with a diagnosis of acquired brain injury (ABI).

Methods

The following electronic databases were searched: Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Pubmed. The database filters limited the search to articles published between 1990 and July 2017 in English or Spanish, including children and adolescents. Articles were read and classified according to the levels of evidence of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and the Downs and Black checklist was used for Measuring Study Quality.

Results

Thirty studies are reported in this systematic review. Level of evidence, quality of the studies, characteristics of the participants, interventions implemented, and outcomes are described.

Conclusions

The study of rehabilitation for executive dysfunction in children with ABI is emerging. Although few high-quality intervention studies exist in this area, which limits conclusions regarding intervention efficacy, results of existing studies suggest that education for parents may be an important component of intervention. Moreover, caregiver involvement may improve the effectiveness of hot EFs rehabilitation interventions, while high intervention session frequency may be important in improving cold EFs. Positive behavior supports and specific training based on a cognitive model provided some promising findings, which require further evaluation.

Development of the WHO Caregiver Skills Training Program for Developmental Disorders or Delays

Globally, 52.9 million children under the age of 5 experience a developmental disability, such as sensory impairment, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorders. Of these 95% live in low-and-middle-income countries. Most of these children lack access to care. In light of the growing evidence that caregivers can learn skills to support their children's social communication and adaptive behavior and to reduce their challenging behavior, the World Health Organization developed a novel Caregiver Skills Training Program (CST) for families of children with developmental disorders or delay to address such treatment gap. This report outlines the development process, content, and global field-testing strategy of the WHO CST program. The CST program is designed to be feasible, scalable, and adaptable and appropriate for implementation in low-resource settings by nonspecialists. The program was informed by an evidence review utilizing a common elements approach and was developed through extensive stakeholder consultation and an iterative revision process. The program is intended for a global audience and was designed to be adapted to the cultural, socioeconomic, geographic, and resource context in which it is used to ensure that it is comprehensible, acceptable, feasible, and relevant to target users. It is currently undergoing field-testing in more than 30 countries across all world regions.

A randomised controlled trial of the Group Stepping Stones Triple P training programme for parents of children with developmental disabilities

The central aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Group Stepping Stones Triple P (GSSTP) in an Irish context for families of children with both developmental disabilities and internalising and externalising behavioural problems. Parents of 84 children (mean age = 5.73; SD = 2.06) with developmental disabilities and co-occurring behaviour problems attending Irish public health services were randomly assigned to a 9-week GSSTP group or a waiting list control (WLC) group. All parents completed self-report measures before (Time 1) and after (Time 2) the programme and parents in the GSSTP group were assessed at 3- to 5-month follow-up (Time 3). At Time 2, clinical improvement and reliable change rates on the primary dependent variables (summary scales of the Developmental Behaviour Checklist and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) were significantly higher in the GSSTP group than in the WLC group. At Time 2, mean scores of the GSSTP group showed significant, small to medium improvements relative to the WLC group on parent-reported child behaviour problems, parenting skills and confidence, and parental adjustment. Most of these improvements were maintained at 3- to 5-month follow-up. These results indicate that GSSTP is a promising intervention for improving child behaviour and parenting outcomes in a mixed-disability group in an Irish context.

Factors associated with parental grief reaction following pediatric acquired brain injury

The present study investigated factors associated with parental grief reaction (PGR) following pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI), and compared PGR to the one exhibited following child death. Fifty-seven parents of 51 children (aged 3-18) whose ABI occurred 1-14 years before participation, completed the multi-scale Two-Track Bereavement Questionnaire; a socio-demographic questionnaire; and a scale assessing perceived behavioural changes in the child. Results from regression analysis indicated that time since injury had no impact on parents' grief other than having an adverse impact on their overall coping and functioning; A higher amount of weekly caring hours predicted only a greater traumatic perception of the loss; Older children's ages but mostly greater parental-perceived behavioural changes, predicted greater PGR on most scales. PGR was compared with the pre-existing data of bereaved parents who completed the same grief questionnaire. Although grief response patterns and intensity were similar in both groups, significant differences were found on scales assessing the continuing bond with the child: relational active grief, close and positive relationship, and conflictual relationship. Our findings indicate that parental grief is multi-dimensional following pediatric ABI and illuminate the interplay between elements characterizing parents' nonfinite vs. finite loss experience.

Psychological interventions for parents of children and adolescents with chronic illness

BACKGROUND

Psychological therapies for parents of children and adolescents with chronic illness aim to improve parenting behavior and mental health, child functioning (behavior/disability, mental health, and medical symptoms), and family functioning.This is an updated version of the original Cochrane Review (2012) which was first updated in 2015.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of psychological therapies for parents of children and adolescents with a chronic illness.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and trials registries for studies published up to July 2018.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological interventions for parents of children and adolescents with a chronic illness. In this update we included studies with more than 20 participants per arm. In this update, we included interventions that combined psychological and pharmacological treatments. We included comparison groups that received either non-psychological treatment (e.g. psychoeducation), treatment as usual (e.g. standard medical care without added psychological therapy), or wait-list.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We extracted study characteristics and outcomes post-treatment and at first available follow-up. Primary outcomes were parenting behavior and parent mental health. Secondary outcomes were child behavior/disability, child mental health, child medical symptoms, and family functioning. We pooled data using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and a random-effects model, and evaluated outcomes by medical condition and by therapy type. We assessed risk of bias per Cochrane guidance and quality of evidence using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We added 21 new studies. We removed 23 studies from the previous update that no longer met our inclusion criteria. There are now 44 RCTs, including 4697 participants post-treatment. Studies included children with asthma (4), cancer (7), chronic pain (13), diabetes (15), inflammatory bowel disease (2), skin diseases (1), and traumatic brain injury (3). Therapy types included cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT; 21), family therapy (4), motivational interviewing (3), multisystemic therapy (4), and problem-solving therapy (PST; 12). We rated risk of bias as low or unclear for most domains, except selective reporting bias, which we rated high for 19 studies due to incomplete outcome reporting. Evidence quality ranged from very low to moderate. We downgraded evidence due to high heterogeneity, imprecision, and publication bias.Evaluation of parent outcomes by medical conditionPsychological therapies may improve parenting behavior (e.g. maladaptive or solicitous behaviors; lower scores are better) in children with cancer post-treatment and follow-up (SMD -0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.43 to -0.13; participants = 664; studies = 3; SMD -0.21, 95% CI -0.37 to -0.05; participants = 625; studies = 3; I2 = 0%, respectively, low-quality evidence), chronic pain post-treatment and follow-up (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.10; participants = 755; studies = 6; SMD -0.35, 95% CI -0.50 to -0.20; participants = 678; studies = 5, respectively, moderate-quality evidence), diabetes post-treatment (SMD -1.39, 95% CI -2.41 to -0.38; participants = 338; studies = 5, very low-quality evidence), and traumatic brain injury post-treatment (SMD -0.74, 95% CI -1.25 to -0.22; participants = 254; studies = 3, very low-quality evidence). For the remaining analyses data were insufficient to evaluate the effect of treatment.Psychological therapies may improve parent mental health (e.g. depression, anxiety, lower scores are better) in children with cancer post-treatment and follow-up (SMD -0.21, 95% CI -0.35 to -0.08; participants = 836, studies = 6, high-quality evidence; SMD -0.23, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.08; participants = 667; studies = 4, moderate-quality evidence, respectively), and chronic pain post-treatment and follow-up (SMD -0.24, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.06; participants = 490; studies = 3; SMD -0.20, 95% CI -0.38 to -0.02; participants = 482; studies = 3, respectively, low-quality evidence). Parent mental health did not improve in studies of children with diabetes post-treatment (SMD -0.24, 95% CI -0.90 to 0.42; participants = 211; studies = 3, very low-quality evidence). For the remaining analyses, data were insufficient to evaluate the effect of treatment on parent mental health.Evaluation of parent outcomes by psychological therapy typeCBT may improve parenting behavior post-treatment (SMD -0.45, 95% CI -0.68 to -0.21; participants = 1040; studies = 9, low-quality evidence), and follow-up (SMD -0.26, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.11; participants = 743; studies = 6, moderate-quality evidence). We did not find evidence for a beneficial effect for CBT on parent mental health at post-treatment or follow-up (SMD -0.19, 95% CI -0.41 to 0.03; participants = 811; studies = 8; SMD -0.07, 95% CI -0.34 to 0.20; participants = 592; studies = 5; respectively, very low-quality evidence). PST may improve parenting behavior post-treatment and follow-up (SMD -0.39, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.13; participants = 947; studies = 7, low-quality evidence; SMD -0.54, 95% CI -0.94 to -0.14; participants = 852; studies = 6, very low-quality evidence, respectively), and parent mental health post-treatment and follow-up (SMD -0.30, 95% CI -0.45 to -0.15; participants = 891; studies = 6; SMD -0.21, 95% CI -0.35 to -0.07; participants = 800; studies = 5, respectively, moderate-quality evidence). For the remaining analyses, data were insufficient to evaluate the effect of treatment on parent outcomes.Adverse eventsWe could not evaluate treatment safety because most studies (32) did not report on whether adverse events occurred during the study period. In six studies, the authors reported that no adverse events occurred. The remaining six studies reported adverse events and none were attributed to psychological therapy. We rated the quality of evidence for adverse events as moderate.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Psychological therapy may improve parenting behavior among parents of children with cancer, chronic pain, diabetes, and traumatic brain injury. We also found beneficial effects of psychological therapy may also improve parent mental health among parents of children with cancer and chronic pain. CBT and PST may improve parenting behavior. PST may also improve parent mental health. However, the quality of evidence is generally low and there are insufficient data to evaluate most outcomes. Our findings could change as new studies are conducted.

How Do Parents Influence Child Disruptive Behavior After Acquired Brain Injury? Evidence From a Mediation Model and Path Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) can present with disruptive behavior, which is often a consequence of injury and parent factors. Parent factors are associated with child disruptive behavior. Furthermore, disinhibition in the child also leads to disruptive behavior. However, it is unclear how these factors interact. We investigated whether parental factors influence child disruptive behavior following ABI and how these factors interact.

METHODS

Parents of 77 children with ABI participated in the study. Parent factors (executive dysfunction, trait-anxiety), potential intervention targets (dysfunctional parenting practices, parental stress, child disinhibition), and child disruptive behavior were assessed. A hypothetical model based on the literature was tested using mediation and path analysis.

RESULTS

Mediation analysis revealed that child disinhibition and dysfunctional parenting practices mediated the association of parent factors and child disruptive behavior. Parents' executive dysfunction mediated the association of dysfunctional parenting practices, parental stress and parent trait-anxiety. Parenting practices mediated the association of executive dysfunction and child disruptive behavior. Path analysis indices indicated good model adjustment. Comparative and Tucker-Lewis Index were &gt;0.95, and the root mean square error of approximation was 0.059, with a chi-square of 0.25.

CONCLUSIONS

A low level of parental trait-anxiety may be required to reduce dysfunctional parenting practices and child disinhibition. Impairments in child disinhibition can be exacerbated when parents present with high trait-anxiety. Child disinhibition is the major contributor of disruptive behavior reported by parents and teachers. The current study provides evidence of parent anxiety and child disinhibition as possible modifiable intervention targets for reducing child disruptive behavior. (JINS, 2019, 25, 237-248).

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Stepping Stones Triple P for Parents of Children with Disabilities

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effectiveness of Stepping Stones Triple P (SSTP) parent training programs on child behavior problems and parenting outcomes in families of children with developmental disabilities. Sixteen suitable studies including data from over 900 families were identified in a search for English language published and unpublished controlled outcome studies. SSTP has five levels on a graded continuum of increasing intensity targeting families with differing degrees of treatment need from low intensity media-based parenting information campaigns at level 1, through brief interventions at levels 2 and 3, to more intensive parent training and family therapy interventions at levels 4 and 5. Analyses were conducted on the combination of all levels of SSTP and separately for each level. For combined levels, significant overall effect sizes were found for parent-reported child problems (d = 0.46), researcher observed child behavior (d = 0.51), parenting style (d = 0.70), parenting satisfaction/self-efficacy (d = 0.44), parental adjustment (d = 0.27), and coparental relationship (d = 0.26), but not researcher-observed parent behavior. Strong support was found for level 4 SSTP as an effective intervention for improving child and parent outcomes in families of children with disabilities who have clinically significant problems. Less intensive SSTP interventions for cases with circumscribed difficulties yielded fewer significant treatment effects, and there were relatively few studies of such interventions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Parental Management of Childhood Asthma: An RCT

BACKGROUND

Few trials have been conducted to address the psychological difficulties of parents in managing their child's asthma. Fostering parental psychological flexibility through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may help parents to accept these psychological difficulties and improve their management of childhood asthma.

METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, a 4-session, group-based ACT plus asthma education (ACT group) was compared with an asthma education talk plus 3 telephone follow-ups (control group) to train parents of children diagnosed with asthma. The use of health care services due to asthma exacerbations in children and the psychological well-being of their parents were assessed before, immediately after, and at 6 months after the intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 168 parents and their children aged 3 to 12 years with asthma were consecutively recruited in a public hospital in Hong Kong. When compared with the control group, children whose parents were in the ACT group made significantly fewer emergency department visits (adjusted 6-month incidence rate ratio = 0.20; confidence interval [CI] 0.08 to 0.53; P = .001) due to asthma exacerbations at 6 months postintervention. These parents also reported a decrease in psychological inflexibility (mean difference = -5.45; CI -7.71 to -3.30; P = .014), less anxiety (mean difference = -2.20; CI -3.66 to -0.73; P = .003), and stress (mean difference = -2.50; CI -4.54 to -0.47; P = .016).

CONCLUSIONS

Integrating ACT into parental asthma education was effective at decreasing parental anxiety and stress and reducing the asthma-related emergency department visits of children at 6 months postintervention.

Online Family Problem-solving Treatment for Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To determine whether online family problem-solving treatment (OFPST) is more effective in improving behavioral outcomes after pediatric traumatic brain injury with increasing time since injury.

METHODS

This was an individual participant data meta-analysis of outcome data from 5 randomized controlled trials of OFPST conducted between 2003 and 2016. We included 359 children ages 5 to 18 years who were hospitalized for moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury 1 to 24 months earlier. Outcomes, assessed pre- and posttreatment, included parent-reported measures of externalizing, internalizing, and executive function behaviors and social competence.

RESULTS

Participants included 231 boys and 128 girls with an average age at injury of 13.6 years. Time since injury and age at injury moderated OFPST efficacy. For earlier ages and short time since injury, control participants demonstrated better externalizing problem scores than those receiving OFPST (Cohen's d = 0.44; P = .008; n = 295), whereas at older ages and longer time since injury, children receiving OFPST had better scores (Cohen's d = -0.60; P = .002). Children receiving OFPST were rated as having better executive functioning relative to control participants at a later age at injury, with greater effects seen at longer (Cohen's d = -0.66; P = .009; n = 298) than shorter (Cohen's d = -0. 28; P = .028) time since injury.

CONCLUSIONS

OFPST may be more beneficial for older children and when begun after the initial months postinjury. With these findings, we shed light on the optimal application of family problem-solving treatments within the first 2 years after injury.

Parental Outcomes Following Participation in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) benefit from parent involvement in their therapy, and there is evidence that this involvement may improve parent functioning as well. We examined changes in parent mental health, parenting, and expressed emotion, following participation in a randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavior therapy for 57 children with ASD. Post-intervention, improvements occurred in the treatment group in parent depression and emotion regulation, compared to waitlisted parents. Treatment effects also occurred across all parents in depression, emotion regulation, perceptions of their children and mindful parenting. Though preliminary, these results have implications for intervention development and evaluation by focusing on parent outcomes in child treatment.

Entrenamiento Conductual y Atención Plena sobre el Estrés Parental y Relación Padre-Hijo

RESUMEN El objetivo principal de este estudio fue evaluar la efectividad de un procedimiento tradicional a padres combinado con uno de atención plena en la reducción del estrés parental e incremento en interacción positiva padre-hijo. Se utilizó un diseño pre test - pos test de un solo grupo. Durante el pre test y pos test se aplicaron el PSI, FFMQ y PCRI-M para evaluar el estrés parental, atención plena y relación padre-hijo, respectivamente. La intervención duró ocho semanas en que se implementó un procedimiento de entrenamiento de padres y uno de atención plena. Los resultados muestran que el entrenamiento combinado fue efectivo en la reducción del estrés parental, el incremento del uso de la atención plena y la mejora en la relación padre-hijo.

Randomized Clinical Trial of Online Parent Training for Behavior Problems After Early Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of Internet-based Interacting Together Everyday: Recovery After Childhood TBI (I-InTERACT) versus abbreviated parent training (Express) or access to online resources (internet resources comparison [IRC]) in improving parenting skills and decreasing behavior problems after early traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHOD

In this randomized, controlled, clinical trial, 113 children 3 to 9 years old previously hospitalized for moderate to severe TBI were randomly assigned to receive Express (n = 36), I-InTERACT (n = 39), or IRC (n = 38). Express included 7 online parent skills sessions, and I-InTERACT delivered 10 to 14 sessions addressing parenting skills, TBI education, stress, and anger management. The 2 interventions coupled online modules with therapist coaching through a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant Skype link. The IRC group received access to online TBI and parent skills resources. Co-primary outcomes were blinded ratings of parenting skills and parent report of behavior problems and problem intensity on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). Outcomes were assessed before treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment, with the latter constituting the primary endpoint.

RESULTS

The Express and I-InTERACT groups displayed higher levels of positive parenting at follow-up. Only the I-InTERACT group had lower levels of negative parenting at 6 months. The Express group had lower ECBI intensity scores than the IRC group. Baseline symptom levels moderated improvements; children in the Express and I-InTERACT groups with higher baseline symptoms demonstrated greater improvements than those in the IRC group. Changes in parenting skills mediated improvements in behavior in those with higher baseline symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Brief online parent skills training can effectively decrease behavior problems after early TBI in children with existing behavioral symptoms. Clinical trial registration information-Internet-based Interacting Together Everyday, Recovery After Childhood TBI (I-InTERACT)-RRTC; http://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT01214694.

The experiences of parenting a child with an acquired brain injury: A meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review and then synthesize the qualitative literature on the experience of parenting a child with an acquired brain injury (ABI).

DESIGN

Systematic literature review and meta-synthesis Methods. A systematic search of the literature was conducted in four databases. Papers which met the inclusion criterion were assessed for quality using the Critical Skills Appraisal Programme (CASP) tool and then synthesized according to Noblit and Hare's (1988) guidelines for meta-ethnography.

RESULTS

Of the 4855 papers retrieved, 17 met the inclusion criteria. Synthesis resulted in three themes: (1) Disconnection: Cut off from internal emotions and isolated from others; (2) Seeking understanding and support to manage in an insecure world; and (3) New parent to a different child.

CONCLUSIONS

Having a child with an ABI leads to many challenges for parents. These include feeling insecure, isolated from others and struggling to adapt to the different roles required to parent their different child. Clinical implications highlight the need for specialist support that is ongoing after discharge, including specialist knowledge and understanding of ABI and opportunities for peer support.

A randomized controlled trial of a telehealth parenting intervention: A mixed-disability trial

BACKGROUND

The quality of parenting a child receives has a major impact on development, wellbeing and future life opportunities.

AIMS

This study examined the efficacy of Triple P Online - Disability (TPOL-D) a telehealth intervention for parents of children with a disability.

METHODS

Ninety-eight parents and carers of children aged 2-12 years diagnosed with a range of developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities were randomly assigned to either the intervention (51) or treatment-as-usual (47) control group.

RESULTS

At post-intervention parents receiving the TPOL-D intervention demonstrated significant improvements in parenting practices and parenting self-efficacy, however a significant change in parent-reported child behavioral and emotional problems was not detected. At 3-month follow up intervention gains were maintained and/or enhanced. A significant decrease in parent-reported child behavioral and emotional problems was also detected at this time.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that TPOL-D is a promising telehealth intervention for a mixed-disability group.

A Clinical Pilot Study of Individual and Group Treatment for Adolescents with Chronic Pain and Their Parents: Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Functioning

Pediatric chronic pain is common and can result in substantial long-term disability. Previous studies on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) have shown promising results in improving functioning in affected children, but more research is still urgently needed. In the current clinical pilot study, we evaluated an ACT-based interdisciplinary outpatient intervention (14 sessions), including a parent support program (four sessions). Adolescents were referred to the clinic if they experienced disabling chronic pain. They were then randomized, along with their parents, to receive group (n = 12) or individual (n = 18) treatment. Adolescent pain interference, pain reactivity, depression, functional disability, pain intensity and psychological flexibility, along with parent anxiety, depression, pain reactivity and psychological flexibility were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. There were no significant differences in outcomes between individual and group treatment. Analyses illustrated significant (p < 0.01) improvements (medium to large effects) in pain interference, depression, pain reactivity and psychological flexibility post-treatment. Additionally, analyses showed significant (p < 0.01) improvements (large effects) in parent pain reactivity and psychological flexibility post-treatment. On all significant outcomes, clinically-significant changes were observed for 21%–63% of the adolescents across the different outcome measures and in 54%–76% of the parents. These results support previous findings and thus warrant the need for larger, randomized clinical trials evaluating the relative utility of individual and group treatment and the effects of parental interventions.

Social Environmental Moderators of Long-term Functional Outcomes of Early Childhood Brain Injury

IMPORTANCE

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to impairments in behavior and academic performance. However, the long-term effects of early childhood TBI on functioning across settings remain poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the long-term functional outcomes of early childhood TBI relative to early childhood orthopedic injuries (OIs). We also examine the moderating role of the social environment as defined by parent report and observational measures of family functioning, parenting practices, and home environment.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study conducted at each child's home, school, and hospital, including 3 children's hospitals and 1 general hospital in the Midwest. Patients were enrolled in the initial study between January 2003 and October 2006. Follow-ups were completed between January 2010 and April 2015. Fifty-eight children who sustained a TBI (67% of original enrolled cohort) and 72 children who sustained an OI (61% of the original enrolled cohort) were prospectively followed up from shortly after injury (between the ages of 3 and 7 years at enrollment) to an average of 6.7 years after injury, with assessments occurring at multiple points.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Long-term functional outcomes in everyday settings, as assessed through the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS).

RESULTS

Of the 130 children included, the median age for those with OIs was 11.72 years and 11.97, 12.21, and 11.72 years for those with complicated mild, moderate, and severe TBIs, respectively. Children with moderate and severe TBI were rated as having more functional impairments in multiple domains than those with OIs (P < .05). Children with complicated mild TBI had greater impairments in school (odds ratio = 2.93; 95% CI = 1.10-7.82) and with thinking (odds ratio = 15.72; 95% CI = 3.31-74.73) than those with OIs. Functional impairments in children with TBI were more pronounced among children from families with higher levels of permissive (mean CAFAS of 49.71, 35.74, 58.14, and 16.16 for severe TBI, moderate TBI, complicated mild TBI, and OI, respectively, with significant difference between severe TBI and OI [difference = 33.55; P < .001] and complicated mild TBI and OI [difference = 41.98; P < .001]) or authoritarian (mean CAFAS of 56.45, 41.80, 54.90, and 17.12 for severe TBI, moderate TBI, complicated mild TBI, and OI, respectively, with significant difference between severe TBI and OI [difference = 39.33; P < .001], moderate TBI and OI [difference = 24.68; P = .003], and complicated mild TBI and OI [difference = 37.78; P < .001]) parenting or with fewer home resources (mean CAFAS of 69.57, 47.45, 49.00, and 23.81 for severe TBI, moderate TBI, complicated mild TBI, and OI, respectively, with significant difference between severe TBI and OI [difference = 45.77; P < .001], moderate TBI and OI [difference = 23.64; P < .001], and complicated mild TBI and OI [difference = 25.20; P < .001]).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Even children with relatively mild early TBI experience long-term functional impairments, particularly in the context of less favorable home environments. These findings suggest that improving parenting skills and the quality of the home environment may promote functional recovery following early TBI.