<p>Parent training programmes is a wide phenomenon in Sweden today and is concidered to be the most effective method for parents with cildren who have conduct problems. The Komet programme is a manualbased parent training programe developed by the city of Stockholm to strengten interaction between parent and child as well as reducing conflicts in families. The aim of this study was to examine the puspose of the Komet programme as well as the influence it may have on interaction between parent and child. To fulfil the purpose six qualitative interviews were conducted, two interviews with professionals from the Komet programme and four interviews with parents who had participated in the Komet programme. A multidimensional tool for interpretation was used, containing normalisationperspective with focus on child upbringing, roletheory and attachmenttheory. The results showed that the parent’s participation in the Komet programme led to a reduction in conflicts within the family as well as improvement in interaction between parent and child. Further more the results showed that all of the parents where insecure in their parentrole before taking part in the Komet programme. After their participation in the Komet programme they all stated a feeling of having received new tools to better handle conflicts within the family. The overall results of the study led to the creation of two new conceptions introduced in the final discussion: The modern problem family and The manualbased parenthood.</p>

Research has shown that children displaying conduct problems (CP) early in life are at greater risk for severe CP and other negative outcomes later in life. However, not all children with early-onset CP will develop severe CP over the life-course. Thus, it is important to identify those at greater risk, preferably as early as possible, in order to adequately prevent a negative development. Psychopathic traits have received much attention in research on risk for severe CP, involving attempts to extend these traits, and their association to CP to childhood. However, research has thus far mainly focused on one dimension of psychopathic traits, that is callousunemotional (CU) traits, to some extent neglecting two other dimensions of traits commonly included in a psychopathic personality: an interpersonal, and a behavioural dimension. Hence, we still do not know if a full psychopathic personality is identifiable in early childhood, and if and how it is related to the development of severe and persistent CP. The aim of this dissertation was to examine if a psychopathic personality could be identified in early childhood, if psychopathic traits are stable over time, and if and how the psychopathic personality is related to childhood CP. Overall, the results show that psychopathic traits, as well as the display of a psychopathic personality, could be identified in early childhood. These traits were stable over time, and they were clearly and strongly related to childhood CP. Additionally, the combination of early-onset CP and a full psychopathic personality seems to be the most precarious for severe and persistent CP, even more so than the combination of CP and CU traits. With careful consideration to ethical aspects, these results are discussed both in relation to a developmental psychopathology perspective on CP, as well as in relation to diagnostic practice as it is framed today.

The current study tested the association of both positive and negative aspects of parenting with callous-unemotional (CU) traits and conduct problems. Caregivers of 92 kindergarteners were recruited to complete a series of survey measures. Overall, parent-report of negative parenting practices was not associated with teacher report of conduct problems. However, parent report of positive parenting practices (i.e., warmth, positive reinforcement, positive communication and cooperation) was negatively associated with conduct problems and CU traits. Interactions between positive parenting variables and CU traits in their association with conduct problems indicated that positive reinforcement related more strongly to lower levels of conduct problem behavior for youth with high levels of CU traits. However, positive communication and cooperation related more strongly to conduct problems for youth with lower levels of CU traits. These associations suggest that parenting may play a role in the development of CU traits and conduct problems.

Parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) endorse increased levels of parenting stress and subsequently employ ineffective parenting practices. For children with comorbid conduct problems, mothers report more parenting stress than mothers of children with ADHD alone. I investigated the relationships among child ADHD diagnostic status, parenting stress, parenting behaviors (i.e., involvement and positive parenting) and child conduct problems in 78 African American mothers of children with and without ADHD. Mothers completed a demographic questionnaire, a semi-structured clinical interview, the ADHD Rating scale (also completed by teachers), the Impairment Rating Scale, the Parenting Stress Index – Short Form, and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire. Simultaneous multiple regressions indicated that both child ADHD and conduct problems significantly predicted parenting stress. However, these child variables did not predict parenting behaviors, and child conduct problems did not moderate the association between child ADHD and parenting stress. Results highlight how parenting stress may be the most integral target in psychosocial treatment for African American mothers. Given this, future researchers should longitudinally investigate these relationships and clinicians should ensure parenting stress and child conduct problems are integrated into ADHD treatment.

The relationship between the literal language and conduct problems among conduct disordered adolescents was examined in 109 subjects. The inability to use figurative language was found to be positively related to ratings of conduct problems. Both the parents' discipline style and nonuse of figurative language were related to 111 conduct problems in conduct disordered adolescents. The possible role of other variables, for example, age, sex, and IQ, was examined. Possible mechanisms that could relate the lack of figurative competence and conduct problems were explored.

Children with antisocial, aggressive and disruptive behaviours pose considerable concern to families, educators and the wider community. A major barrier to implementing effective interventions is treatment non-attendance and attrition. The dissertation examines treatment participation among children with conduct problems, and their families, referred to child and youth mental health services. First, a model of treatment engagement was proposed that included Structural strategies (clinic service operations, such as service accessibility) and Therapy Process strategies (aspects of the interaction between the clinician and the family of the referred child). Consistent with the model of engagement, parent-report and clinician-report measures were developed and evaluated in the local Queensland Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. The next study explored and manipulated Structural aspects in a randomised control trial evaluating the impact of telephone reminder calls. Families of children with conduct problems, in comparison to children without conduct problems, were more likely to miss appointments and to drop out of treatment. The low rate of treatment attendance for conduct problem children was diminished among those assigned to the telephone reminder condition. In the final study, the impact of a clinician training program covering the proposed engagement model was evaluated. Utilising a multiple-staggered baseline design, the training impact on clinician behaviour (n = 30) and client outcomes (n = 221) was evaluated across three mental health services. The training program was associated with a significant increase in clinicians' appraisal and use of the engagement strategies based on clinician report and chart audit measures, but not on the parent report measure. In comparison to clients referred during a baseline period, clients referred after the clinician training program had significantly higher rates of treatment attendance and lower attrition. Greater improvement in mental health functioning was found for clients referred after the training intervention on the clinician rated measure, but not for the parent report of child psychopathology. The study was limited by the use of previously un-validated engagement measures, lack of follow-up for outcome measures, and non-random allocation to conditions. The staggering of interventions across clinics and the comparability of client groups, however, minimised potential confounding explanations. Overall the results show that targeting Structural and Therapy Process aspects can enhance engagement, reduce drop-out, and improve selected outcomes in the treatment of child conduct problems.

Parent training programmes is a wide phenomenon in Sweden today and is concidered to be the most effective method for parents with cildren who have conduct problems. The Komet programme is a manualbased parent training programe developed by the city of Stockholm to strengten interaction between parent and child as well as reducing conflicts in families. The aim of this study was to examine the puspose of the Komet programme as well as the influence it may have on interaction between parent and child. To fulfil the purpose six qualitative interviews were conducted, two interviews with professionals from the Komet programme and four interviews with parents who had participated in the Komet programme. A multidimensional tool for interpretation was used, containing normalisationperspective with focus on child upbringing, roletheory and attachmenttheory. The results showed that the parent’s participation in the Komet programme led to a reduction in conflicts within the family as well as improvement in interaction between parent and child. Further more the results showed that all of the parents where insecure in their parentrole before taking part in the Komet programme. After their participation in the Komet programme they all stated a feeling of having received new tools to better handle conflicts within the family. The overall results of the study led to the creation of two new conceptions introduced in the final discussion: The modern problem family and The manualbased parenthood.

Although common in toddlerhood, for most children, antisocial behavior declines with age. The current study examined whether changes in maternal sensitivity, children's social skills, emotion regulation, and hostile attributions account for these declines. Data from 1022 participants, (52% female; 87% Caucasian) from the NICHD SECCYD were examined from 54 months through 6th grade. Analyses revealed that increases in sensitivity, social skills, and emotion regulation predicted decreases in antisocial behavior. Increases in sensitivity predicted declines because they promoted social skills and emotion regulation. Decreases in antisocial behavior predicted subsequent increases in sensitivity, children's social skills, emotion regulation, and decreases in hostile attributions. Increasing sensitivity, children's social skills, and emotion regulation, appear to be critical factors for naturally-occurring declines in antisocial behavior. / text

Deception is not only part of daily life for adults, but it is also part of typical development throughout childhood. Research has shown that the ability to deceive improves with age and has been found to be related to the development of cognitive skills such as executive functioning processes, theory of mind, and intelligence. However for some children, lie-telling becomes problematic and atypical. For children with conduct problems, deception is one of the most common presenting symptoms and has been found to be pervasive across childhood and into adolescence. While most studies analyze the lying behaviours of these children based on parent and teacher reports, no studies have yet empirically evaluated the actual deceptive behaviours of children with severe conduct problems. The current study investigated the antisocial and prosocial deception rates and abilities of children with and without severe conduct problems. Additionally, cognitive measures and parental reports of lying and parenting styles were considered in order to determine how such variables may be related to deception. A total of 66 children participated in the current study with half of the sample originating from a community agency for children with behaviour problems and the other half consisting of an age- and gender-matched control sample. Results demonstrated that compared to their typically developing counterparts, children with conduct problems were more likely to behave antisocially by committing antisocial transgressions, and subsequently lying. These children were also less likely to tell prosocial lies. Consistent with previous research, many cognitive measures, such as Executive Functioning (e.g., inhibition) and Theory of Mind (1st and 2nd Order) were found to be related to deception for the typically developing sample, though fewer and different cognitive measures were found to be predictive of deception within the clinical sample. Parent ratings of lie-telling frequency were not predictive of antisocial or prosocial deception, though they were predictive of antisocial lie-telling sophistication. Parenting styles were minimally predictive of deception. Results suggest that the mechanisms used by children with conduct problems during deception differ from a typically developing sample. Limitations as well as implications are discussed.

Deception is not only part of daily life for adults, but it is also part of typical development throughout childhood. Research has shown that the ability to deceive improves with age and has been found to be related to the development of cognitive skills such as executive functioning processes, theory of mind, and intelligence. However for some children, lie-telling becomes problematic and atypical. For children with conduct problems, deception is one of the most common presenting symptoms and has been found to be pervasive across childhood and into adolescence. While most studies analyze the lying behaviours of these children based on parent and teacher reports, no studies have yet empirically evaluated the actual deceptive behaviours of children with severe conduct problems. The current study investigated the antisocial and prosocial deception rates and abilities of children with and without severe conduct problems. Additionally, cognitive measures and parental reports of lying and parenting styles were considered in order to determine how such variables may be related to deception. A total of 66 children participated in the current study with half of the sample originating from a community agency for children with behaviour problems and the other half consisting of an age- and gender-matched control sample. Results demonstrated that compared to their typically developing counterparts, children with conduct problems were more likely to behave antisocially by committing antisocial transgressions, and subsequently lying. These children were also less likely to tell prosocial lies. Consistent with previous research, many cognitive measures, such as Executive Functioning (e.g., inhibition) and Theory of Mind (1st and 2nd Order) were found to be related to deception for the typically developing sample, though fewer and different cognitive measures were found to be predictive of deception within the clinical sample. Parent ratings of lie-telling frequency were not predictive of antisocial or prosocial deception, though they were predictive of antisocial lie-telling sophistication. Parenting styles were minimally predictive of deception. Results suggest that the mechanisms used by children with conduct problems during deception differ from a typically developing sample. Limitations as well as implications are discussed.