Reciprocal skills training in the treatment of externalising behaviour disorders in childhood: A preliminary investigation

This study reported on the efficacy of Reciprocal Skills Training (RST), a family-based treatment modality for childhood externalising disorders. Chil dren (N = 57) ranging from 7 to 12 years old who fulfilled diagnostic crite ria for oppositional defiant disorder were randomly allocated to RST tin ei ther a hospital or clinical setting) or a waiting-list control group. At po sttreatment, no significant differences were observed across the two treatm ent settings. Results indicated that 95.5% of children in the hospital sett ing and 72.2% of children in the clinical setting no longer met criteria fo r oppositional defiant disorder, compared to 30% of children on the waiting list. Children in the treatment groups also obtained significantly lower s cores on the Externalising scale of the Child Behaviour Checklist, compared to the waiting-list group. In addition, mothers' levels of stress and depr ession were significantly reduced at posttreatment, compared to mothers of children on the waiting list. These findings suggest that RST is an effecti ve treatment modality for children displaying externalising behaviours, as well as for their mothers. The results are discussed in terms of limitation s of the current study and future directions for research and clinical prac tice.