Day treatment for disruptive behaviour disorders: can a short-term program be effective?

Objective: The present study investigates the effectiveness of a short-term day treatment program for children with a primary diagnosis of a Disruptive Behaviour Disorder (DBD) using best-practice treatment strategies. This study, using a wait list control, compared children's admission and discharge test scores on standardized measures of behaviour and functioning, as rated by parents.

Method: A repeated measures MANOVA was used to evaluate symptom change.

Results: The treatment group was found to have improved significantly more than the waitlist group on parent reports of externalizing behaviour, aggression, social problems, hyperactivity and parent stress.

Conclusions: Children with DBD who attended a short-term day treatment program using best-practice treatment strategies showed significant improvement in their behaviour at home. The current study lends support to the idea that severe DBD can be treated using multi-modal, intensive and evidence-based treatment techniques.