Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Toward evidence-based treatment : child-parent psychotherapy with preschoolers exposed to marital violence
Other Titles:	Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Authors:	Ippen, Chandra Gosh van Horn, Patricia Lieberman, Alicia F
Keywords:	Impact on children and young people;Theories of violence;Counselling
Year:	2005
Publisher:	Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Citation:	44 (12), December 2005
Notes:	This US paper referred to the impact that domestic violence has on preschool children including impairment in self-regulation, emotional, social and cognitive functioning. The compatibility of empirical literature on the impact, predictors and mediators of marital violence with theoretical conceptualisations was discussed. A study was undertaken to examine the efficacy that Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) had on preschool-aged children who had been exposed to marital violence. The aim of CPP is to improve the quality of the child-mother relationship and engage the mother as the child’s ally when the child is coping with trauma. The efficacy of Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) was compared with a case management plus treatment model. Seventy-five multiethnic mother-child dyads participated in the study (39 girls and 36 boys aged 3 to 5 years). Participants were randomly assigned to either the CPP or Case management Plus Individual Psychotherapy groups. Results from the study support CPP efficacy for preschoolers exposed to marital violence. The children randomly assigned to CPP improved significantly more than children receiving case management plus treatment in the community. There was a decrease in total behaviour problems and TSD symptoms in children who received CPP. Mothers receiving CPP showed significantly fewer PTSD avoidance symptoms at the end of treatment than comparison group mothers. This study demonstrated that CPP results in positive outcomes both for the child and the caregiver. The findings highlight the importance of a relationship focus in the treatment of traumatised preschoolers. Limitations of the study were discussed with recommendations for future research.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/17280
ISSN:	0890-8567
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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