The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60858

Robin H. Gurwitch, PhD, John J. Mulvihill, MD, and Mark Chaffin, PhD. Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1100 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117

Children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and alcohol- related neurodevelopmental disabilities (ARND) are at increased risk for significant behavioral difficulties, including aggressive and disruptive behaviors, noncompliance, hyperactivity, poor attention, low frustration tolerance, and poor social skills. Caregivers' perceptions of these children are more negative than views of children without alcohol exposure. Furthermore, caregivers report significantly higher levels of stress. The challenging behaviors together with the negative perceptions and high stress levels increase the risk for child abuse/neglect and disruptive foster care placements. These negative behaviors are also likely to interfere with the children's learning potential and development of appropriate social skills. Little is know regarding the prevention of these secondary disabilities in children with FAS/ARND. The current study will compare two different interventions for very young children with FAS/ARND (30 months to 7 years) and their caregivers. One intervention is a specialized behavior management program, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. Parents and children are actively involved in treatment. It has been found effective in reducing both externalizing behavior problems in children and parenting stress, but it has not been applied to this population. The other intervention, a less directive and structured support and management group, does not involve the children. Both interventions incorporate education and advocacy components. The goals of treatment are reduction of negative behaviors, improvement of relationships, and reduction of parenting stress. The overall hope of the project is to illuminate which components of treatment may be necessary to achieve maximum benefits for these children and their families.

Learning Objectives:

Learning objectives: At the end of this presentation the participants will be able to:
• identify challenging behaviors in young children associated with FAS/ARND;
• articulate how parenting stress can increase risk for child abuse/neglect and disrupted foster care placements and
• describe the basic principals of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, support programs, and advocacy training as applied to children with FAS/ARND and their families.

Keywords: Alcohol, Children With Special Needs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.