EVALUATION OF PILOT PROJECT OF BRIEF PARENT-YOUNG CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPY
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of a small scale pilot project of brief parent-young child psychotherapy with 2-5 year-olds
IRAS ID
200067
Contact name
Lena Roberts-Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the potential usefulness, or otherwise, of brief parent-young child psychotherapy in the amelioration of mental health vulnerability in 2-5 year-olds in Eastern Devon Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
The intervention is the Tavistock Under-Fives model of brief parent-child psychotherapy. This intervention involves both parent and child in the therapeutic work, with a particular interest on the relationship between them (Fraiberg, 1980; Lieberman & Pawl, 1993). The model aims to enhance caregiver capacity to understand and communicate with the child and in turn increase the child's sense of feeling understood (Emanuel, 2011). The areas of difficulty addressed include separation anxiety, difficulties related to early attunement, tantrums and aggression and bonding struggles in the parent-child relationship (Emanuel, 2011). Families will be offered five sessions, which will then be reviewed with the possibility of a further five sessions and review.
This pilot project will be conducted in Eastern Devon CAMHS. Participants will be families living in the catchment area with children aged between two and five years where there are concerns about the child’s mental health, as identified by parents or carers and professionals.
Measures will be taken across three time points: before intervention; end of intervention and at a two month follow up appointment. Measures used will be the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire completed by parents/carers, a Goal Based Measure completed by parents/carers, and the PIR-GAS (Parent-Infant Relational scale) completed by the clinician.
In addition, detailed process notes will be taken following each intervention session. This data will be used within an in-depth qualitative review of the work. It is hoped that the inclusion of qualitative methods will contribute towards understanding the processes that contribute to, and impede, change.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1563
Date of REC Opinion
23 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion