Augmenting Parent Management Training for Child Temper Outbursts Using a Digital Tool

Background:

Pediatric disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) are characterized by severe irritability, anger, and temper outbursts. The primary way to treat children with DBDs is parent management training (PMT). PMT teaches parents how to reward desired behaviors and not to reward undesired ones. Researchers want to find out if a smartphone app can help parents apply these skills more effectively.

Objective:

To test a smartphone app to enhance PMT.

Eligibility:

Children aged 8 to 13 years with DBDs. A parent or guardian is also needed.

Design:

Parents will have 12 weekly sessions of PMT. PMT teaches them how to manage their child s mood and behaviors. Parents will learn to actively ignore, praise, set limits, and handle temper outbursts. PMT can be either in person or via video. Sessions last 30 to 60 minutes. They will be video and audio recorded.

Parents will be divided into 2 groups. Only 1 group will download a smartphone app. The app helps parents practice PMT skills. It offers videos, a resource library, and alerts when a child may be at risk for various behaviors.

All parents will be prompted every day to answer questions about their child s mood and their own behavior. These will continue until 12 weeks after their last PMT session.

Children will also answer questions on their phone daily for 1 week at a time. They will do this on 3 different weeks, each about 2 months apart. They will also have check-ins by phone every 2 weeks for up to 6 months.

Parents will have follow-up calls 3, 6, and 12 months after they finish PMT.