No abstract

We examined mediators and moderators of change in conduct problems, in a multiagency randomized trial of the Incredible Years parenting program. Preschoolers (n = 153) at risk for conduct problems were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 104) and wait-list (n = 49) groups. Boys and younger children, and those with more depressed mothers, tended to show greater improvement in conduct problems post-intervention. Other risk factors (i.e., teen or single parenthood, very low income, high initial levels of problem behavior) showed no predictive effects, implying intervention was at least as successful at helping the most disadvantaged families, compared to more advantaged. Mediator analyses found change in positive parenting skill predicted change in conduct problems.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of different pathways for developing a life story book (LSB) for people with dementia.MethodPreliminary randomised control trial; 23 people with dementia in care homes (mean age 86) randomly assigned to receive either 12 individual life review sessions and co-creating a LSB or a personal LSB created by their relatives as a ‘gift’ResultsNo difference in quality of life (quality of life–Alzheimer's disease (QOL–AD)) was observed between the two groups, six weeks after having received the LSB (F(1,20) = 0.08, p = 0.77). At this point, QOL–AD had improved for both groups, but there was a significant between-group difference at an intermediate assessment immediately after the life review sessions had been completed, before the LSBs were received (F(1, 20) = 5.11, p = 0.035), in favour of life review. A similar pattern was observed on autobiographical memory (extended autobiographical memory interview), with the life review group improving significantly more than the gift group during the life review sessions, but no difference was observed once all participants had had their LSB for six weeks. After the LSBs were produced – by either pathway – quality of relationship as rated by relatives improved significantly (F(2, 39) = 19.37, p < 0.001) and staff knowledge regarding the resident and attitudes to dementia improved.ConclusionThe creation of LSBs – either through a life review process or by relatives without involving the person with dementia – has benefits for people with dementia, relatives and staff in care homes. However, undertaking a life review requires training and supervision.

Early parent-based intervention reduced child antisocial behaviour and benefits were maintained, with reduced reliance on health and social service provision, over time.

A flexible, generalized method of treatment allocation is proposed. The method uses a set of controlling parameters that enables the generic algorithm to produce a family of possible outcomes ranging from simple randomization to deterministic allocation. The method controls balance at stratum level, stratification level and overall without detriment to the predictability of the method. The paper lists the desirable characteristics of allocation methods and shows that the proposed method fulfils the majority and is easy to use in the clinical context, once the coding has been established. An explanation of the method for 2, 3 and 4 treatment group allocations is given. Simulations demonstrate the flexibility of the method.