Parent-training/education programmes in the management of children with conduct disorders
This is an extract from the guidance and may be misleading if read alone. The complete guidance is available at guidance.nice.org.uk/ta102
1 Guidance
This guidance only applies to the management of children aged 12 years or younger or with a developmental age of 12 years or younger.
1.1 Group-based parent-training/education programmes are recommended in the management of children with conduct disorders.
1.2 Individual-based parent-training/education programmes are recommended in the management of children with conduct disorders only in situations where there are particular difficulties in engaging with the parents or a family's needs are too complex to be met by group-based parent-training/education programmes.
1.3 It is recommended that all parent-training/education programmes, whether group- or individual-based, should:
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be structured and have a curriculum informed by principles of social-learning theory
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include relationship-enhancing strategies
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offer a sufficient number of sessions, with an optimum of 8–12, to maximise the possible benefits for participants
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enable parents to identify their own parenting objectives
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incorporate role-play during sessions, as well as homework to be undertaken between sessions, to achieve generalisation of newly rehearsed behaviours to the home situation
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be delivered by appropriately trained and skilled facilitators who are supervised, have access to necessary ongoing professional development, and are able to engage in a productive therapeutic alliance with parents
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adhere to the programme developer's manual and employ all of the necessary materials to ensure consistent implementation of the programme.
1.4 Programmes should demonstrate proven effectiveness. This should be based on evidence from randomised controlled trials or other suitable rigorous evaluation methods undertaken independently.
1.5 Programme providers should also ensure that support is available to enable the participation of parents who might otherwise find it difficult to access these programmes.