A Comparative Analysis of Parent-Reported Treatment Acceptability in Collaborative and Proactive Solutions and Parent...

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Behavioral Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Treatment acceptability is vital for adherence and reducing dropout in youth with disruptive behavior disorders.
• Previous research established the efficacy of interventions for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
• Comparing novel approaches like Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) with established methods like Parent Management Training (PMT) is essential for clinical guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptability of the innovative CPS approach for families treating youth with ODD.
• To compare parent-reported treatment acceptability between CPS and PMT.
• To inform clinicians on the suitability of different treatment options for ODD.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 160 youth (aged 7-14) diagnosed with ODD.
• Participants were assigned to either CPS (n=81) or PMT (n=79) for up to 16 weekly sessions.
• Parent and therapist-rated questionnaires assessed adherence, acceptability, satisfaction, relevance, therapeutic alliance, and treatment demands.

Main Results:

• Both CPS and PMT demonstrated very high treatment acceptability ratings, comparable to each other.
• PMT showed a statistically significant, though small, advantage over CPS in satisfaction, adherence, perceived relevance, and treatment demands.
• No significant differences were found in overall acceptability between the two interventions.

Conclusions:

• Both CPS and PMT are highly acceptable and effective interventions for youth with ODD, offering reassurance to clinicians.
• While broadly similar, PMT may offer slight advantages in specific areas like satisfaction and adherence.
• Further research is recommended to explore the factors contributing to PMT's minor advantages, potentially child engagement.