The effectiveness of parenting and family-based interventions for severe and persistent conduct problems in children and adolescents aged 10-17 : a scoping review.

Abstract

Severe and persistent conduct problems are complex manifestations of behaviour, a result of multiple family systemic and developmental processes. Parenting and family-based interventions are regarded as the best method in treating these heterogeneous symptom profiles, a multimodal approach which targets a range of factors across an individual’s ecological system. However, the mechanisms involved in influencing treatment response or effectiveness are yet to be extensively understood or researched. This thesis acts as a scoping review which aimed to identify the extent of literature in the field, including effectiveness of interventions and discussion of common elements, and to determine the feasibility of a future network meta-analysis on the topic. Electronic databases (e.g. PsycINFO, Medline, and ERIC) were searched and studies were included based off of specific inclusion criteria. Twenty-five full-text empirical publications were included in analysis. A synthesis of study and participant characteristics, outcome measures, terminology, and interventions used by each study was included in the results, alongside a report of strengths and limitations as concluded by relevant authors. An additional critical appraisal checklist for RCTs was conducted to quality assess included studies. Despite some varied results, findings overall favoured the use of parenting and family-based interventions in reducing offending-related behaviours and/or conduct problems compared to a comparator group. However, the transportability of specific interventions across nations was found to be mixed, most probably due to the comparability of ‘treatment as usual’ comparator conditions. Further research is necessary in order to determine relevant mechanisms or common elements that influence treatment effectiveness.