Child Physical Abuse—Experiences of Combined Treatment for Children and their Parents: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of treatment for families where child physical abuse has occurred. The Combined Parent–Child Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for Families at Risk for Child Physical Abuse (CPC-CBT) model includes parent and child interventions. Four teams (within child protection and child and adolescent psychiatry services, based in Sweden) were trained to run the treatment. CPC-CBT is a 16-session programme where children and parents receive treatment in parallel groups and joint family sessions. A pilot study, with pre and post measures for both children and parents, was carried out to evaluate the treatment effects (18 families, 26 adults and 25 children). Significantly decreased symptoms of depression among parents, less use of violent parenting strategies and less inconsistent parenting were reported after treatment. Children initially reported high levels of traumatic experiences and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. After treatment, trauma symptoms and depression among children were significantly reduced. Children also reported that parents used significantly less violence and increased positive parenting strategies after completion of the treatment. The implications of the findings are discussed.