Effects of Computer-Assisted Social Skills Training in Children With Disruptive Behavior Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Computer-assisted child-focused interventions are expected to improve efficiency and personalization of therapist-led treatments for children and adolescents. However, therapist-led, outpatient interventions using computer assistance are lacking for children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD). The present randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of individualized computer-assisted social skills training for children with aggressive behavior compared to a resource activation intervention.

Method: A total of 100 children aged 6-12 years with a diagnosis of ODD/CD and peer-related aggression were randomly (1:1) assigned to either individually delivered computer-assisted social skills training (ScouT) or an individually delivered supportive resource activation treatment (STARK). The primary outcome was parent-rated peer-related aggression, assessed with the respective scale of the Questionnaire for Aggressive Behavior of Children (FAVK) and measured at pre-assessment and after the 16-week intervention (post-assessment). Further parent-, self-, teacher- and/or clinician-rated outcomes included ODD and CD symptoms, a wide range of behavioral and emotional symptoms, callous-unemotional traits, functional impairment, and quality of life.

Results: After correcting for multiple testing, analyses of covariance comparing the efficacy of ScouT to the efficacy of STARK yielded small to moderate treatment effects in favor of the ScouT condition regarding parent-rated peer-related aggression (primary outcome; d = -0.64, 95% CI = -1.05, -0.24), parent-rated callous and uncaring traits, and parent-rated quality of life. However, the analyses did not reveal any significant effects for self- or teacher-rated peer-related aggression assessed with the respective scale of the FAVK (self-report: d = -0.21, 95% CI = -0.69, 0.29; teacher rating: d = -0.17, 95% CI = -0.56, 0.22). Moreover, after controlling for multiple comparisons, no significant effects emerged for the following: parent-, self-, and teacher-rated adult-related aggression; parent-, self-, teacher-, and clinician-rated ODD and CD symptoms; parent-, self-, and teacher-rated emotional and behavioral symptoms; and parent-rated functional impairment.

Conclusion: According to parent ratings, school-age children with disruptive behavior disorders and peer-related aggression seem to benefit more from individualized, computer-assisted social skills training than from resource activation treatment. However, this conclusion is limited by the missing effects on the clinician-, self-, and teacher-rated measures.

Clinical Trial Registration Information: Treatment of Children With Peer Related Aggressive Behavior (ScouT); https://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT02143427.