A review of the effectiveness of group cognitively enhanced behavioural based parent programs designed for reducing disruptive behavior in children

Few studies have examined the effects of varying the level of intensity of a parenting intervention in the treatment of conduct problems in children. In particular, it is unclear whether group parenting interventions that incorporate adjunctive cognitive interventions designed to reduce parental stress add to the efficacy and durability of effects of standard parenting skills training. Adjunctive interventions designed to reduce depression, stress, anger management problems or cognition biases, delivered in group settings, have the potential to augment parenting skills training. There is some empirical support for adjunctive interventions, but there are also conflicting findings. This study reviews the data from existing randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of group based cognitively enhanced behavioral parenting programs for reducing children's disruptive behavior and parent distress. The findings show the potential that such interventions have in reducing children's disruptive behavior and draw some lines for future integration of the cognitive components in behavioral parent training.