Citation

Cordeiro K, Wyers C, Oliver M, Foroughe M, Muller RT. Clin. Psychol. Psychother. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/cpp.2739

PMID

35373406

Abstract

This single-arm, repeated measures study investigated the impact caregiver trauma history may have on treatment response following an intensive, 2-day Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) caregiver workshop. Caregivers (n = 243) completed questionnaires regarding their child's emotion regulation and clinical symptoms, as well as their own childhood trauma history (i.e., exposure to various forms of child maltreatment), caregiver self-efficacy, and caregiver blocks (e.g., fears) to support their child's treatment and recovery. Questionnaires were administered prior to and immediately following the workshop, and again 4-, 8- and 12-months later. At baseline, caregivers who reported experiences of childhood maltreatment demonstrated more blocks compared to caregivers who did not (B = 6.35, SE = 2.62, p <.05).

RESULTS indicated that caregivers with and without maltreatment histories reported similar, significant gains in their child's total difficulties (B =.64, SE =.41, p =.12) and emotional negativity and lability (B =.51, SE =.48, p =.29) at 12-months post-workshop. Caregivers with maltreatment histories reported greater improvements in caregiver blocks (B = 5.15, SE = 1.34, p < 0.001) and child emotion regulation (B =.90, SE =.18, p < 0.001) than caregivers without maltreatment histories. They also report less, but still significant, improvement in parental self-efficacy (B = -0.68, SE =.26, p < 0.01) when compared to caregivers without maltreatment histories.

FINDINGS suggest that EFFT workshops may be an acceptable and effective trans-diagnostic intervention for families presenting with complex histories, including caregiver exposure to childhood maltreatment.

Language: en

Keywords

trauma; maltreatment; child psychopathology; emotion focused family therapy; treatment outcome