| Abstract: | The present investigation evaluated the effects of cognitive-behavioral problem-solving skills training (PSST) and nondirective relationship therapy (RT) for the treatment of antisocial child behavior. Psychiatric inpatient children (N?=?56, ages 7–13) were assigned randomly either to PSST, RT, or to a treatment-contact control condition (in which children met individually with a therapist but did not engage in specific activities designed to alter antisocial behavior). Children were hospitalized during the period in which treatment was administered and discharged thereafter. The PSST condition led to significantly greater decreases in externalizing and aggressive behaviors and in overall behavioral problems at home and at school and to increases in prosocial behaviors and in overall adjustment than the RT and contact-control conditions. These effects were evident immediately after treatment and at a 1-year follow-up. The RT and control children did not consistently improve over the treatment and follow-up periods. Comparisons with nonclinical (normative) levels of functioning revealed that a significantly higher proportion of PSST children, compared with those in other conditions, fell within the normative range for prosocial behavior at posttreatment and at follow-up. Even so, the majority of PSST children and almost all RT and control children remained outside the normative range of deviant behavior. The implications of the results for further research for antisocial youth are highlighted. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
