Child-parent psychotherapy: 6-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

To examine the durability of improvement in child and maternal symptoms 6 months after termination of child-parent psychotherapy (CPP).

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.

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.

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.