EMOTIONALLY FOCUSED MARITAL INTERVENTION FOR COUPLES WITH CHRONICALLYILL CHILDREN

Couples with chronically ill children are at risk for experiencing mar ital distress. The present study was a randomized control trial that a ssessed the efficacy of emotionally focused therapy (EFT) in decreasin g marital distress in this population of couples. Thirty-two couples w ith chronically ill children seen at a tertiary care pediatric hospita l were randomly assigned to EFT or to a waitlist control group. EFT co uples demonstrated significant decreases in marital distress at posttr eatment and at a 5-month follow-up in comparison to controls. Clinical improvements in marital functioning following EFT were also demonstra ted.