Six-year outcome for children with ODD or CD treated with the coping power program

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Children with severe aggressive behaviors are frequently referred to mental health services.
• These behaviors increase risk for substance use and other negative outcomes.
• Effective interventions are crucial for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the six-year long-term outcome of the Coping Power Program for children with behavioral disorders.
• To compare the Coping Power Program with a generic multi-component treatment.
• To assess the program's impact on callous-unemotional traits, substance use, and externalizing behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A six-year follow-up study involving 120 children (mean age 9.9) diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder.
• Participants were randomized to the Coping Power Program or a control condition (generic multi-component treatment).
• Assessments included the Child Behavior Checklist, Inventory of Callous Unemotional traits, and a youth survey for substance use.

Main Results:

• The Coping Power Program demonstrated a significant reduction in callous-unemotional traits compared to the control group.
• A trend towards reduced substance use was observed in the Coping Power group.
• No significant differences were found between groups in the reduction of externalizing behaviors.

Conclusions:

• The Coping Power Program shows long-term effectiveness in reducing callous-unemotional traits and potentially substance use in children with behavioral disorders.
• Findings support the dissemination of evidence-based treatments like Coping Power in public mental health settings.
• Further research may be needed to address externalizing behaviors more effectively.