Limitations and Challenges in interventions for children with Disruptive Behavior Disorder

Limitations and challenges in interventions for children with Disruptive Behavior Disorder

Duration: 35 mins Publication Date: 24 Jan 2025 Next Review Date: 24 Jan 2028 DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13767

Description

Christina Stadler explores current guidelines for treating Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD), limitations of these approaches, and emerging intervention strategies. Established treatments, including parent training, child-focused programs, and multimodal interventions, have limitations, particularly for children with high callous-unemotional (CU) traits, socio-economic disadvantages, or mentally ill parents. Recent evidence shows that interventions can be effective even for children with elevated CU traits, though these children require more intensive and tailored approaches. Interventions, such as the START NOW program, focus on teaching emotion regulation, social skills, and goal-setting to adolescents and adults. This program has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing DBD symptoms, particularly when integrated with in-vivo coaching. START NOW comprises a multi-level approach, which includes staff training and emphasizes trauma-sensitive care, CBT, mindfulness, and motivational techniques. The program has shown to be effective in improving both adolescents’ behavior problems and staff resilience. Christina Stadler also talks about barriers to successful implementation, including resource limitations and staff burnout, along with the need for increased public investment in evidence-based interventions. Public policy should prioritize comprehensive, multi-level intervention approaches, particularly also early intervention programs to address DBD effectively and reduce long-term costs.