Day treatment for disruptive behaviour disorders: can a short-term program be effective?

Susan Jerrott1, Sharon E Clark, Isabel Fearon

  • 1IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia. susan.jerrott@iwk.nshealth.ca

Insights

A short-term day treatment program significantly improved behavior in children with Disruptive Behaviour Disorder (DBD). This evidence-based approach reduced externalizing behaviors, aggression, and hyperactivity, offering hope for severe cases.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Disruptive Behaviour Disorder (DBD) presents significant challenges for children and families.
  • Effective, evidence-based interventions are crucial for managing DBD symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term day treatment program for children diagnosed with DBD.
  • To assess treatment outcomes using standardized measures of behavior and functioning.

Main Methods:

  • A waitlist control design was employed.
  • Parent-reported standardized measures assessed behavior and functioning at admission and discharge.
  • Repeated measures MANOVA was utilized to analyze symptom changes.

Main Results:

  • The treatment group demonstrated significant improvements compared to the waitlist control group.
  • Key improvements were observed in externalizing behaviors, aggression, social problems, and hyperactivity.
  • Parental stress levels also significantly decreased in the treatment group.

Conclusions:

  • Short-term day treatment utilizing best-practice strategies is effective for children with DBD.
  • Intensive, multi-modal, and evidence-based treatments can successfully manage severe DBD.
  • Positive behavioral changes were noted in the home environment.
Abstract

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