Online parent training for the treatment of children with externalizing behavioral problems and affective dysregulation

Abstract

Background: Externalizing disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), often lead to persistent maladaptive patterns in the interaction between children and their parents. These patterns are characterized by dysfunctional antecedents and consequences and by aggressive behavior and can lead to negative parent-child relationships. Objective: The aim is to develop online training in a self-help concept that targets parents of children with externalizing disorders. Methods: Existing face to face parent training has been transferred into online formats and the content enhanced. The effectiveness is examined in randomized controlled trials. Results: The ADHD parent trainer addresses parents of children with subclinical or clinically relevant ADHD and other coexisting external symptoms. It aims at improving knowledge about the disorder, strengthening the relationship between parent and child, and improving parental control. Affective dysregulation summarizes symptoms of irritation, affective lability and excessive anger and aggression. In order to reduce problem behavior, children with affective dysregulation first need to learn adaptive strategies for the management of unpleasant feelings. For the Affective Dysregulation –Optimizing Prevention and Therapy (ADOPT) Online parent training, which addresses parents of children with affective dysregulation, the ADHD parent trainer was expanded by interventions that focus on an adaptive management of unpleasant feelings. Discussion: If the running evaluation study reveals positive effects on child symptoms, the ADOPT Online parent training could be implemented for preventive or therapeutic settings as has already been the case for the ADHD parent trainer.