Behavior Management Training through Telepsychiatry Modalities
Cassie Yu, MD

  • Evidence-based behavior management training interventions are associated with sustained behavioral improvements among children with disruptive behaviors but are not readily available in community settings.
  • Telepsychiatry can extend these effective treatments to children in clinic and home settings.
  • In conducting telepsychiatry with families, psychiatrists can both model and coach parents on the concepts of behavior management in real time.
  • When conducting behavior management training in-clinic, telepsychiatrists may use clinic staff to clarify subtleties in the child’s mental status that may not be evident through videoconferencing. 
  • Telepsychiatry with families can be conducted in naturalistic settings such as the home, potentially providing more ecologically valid assessments and interventions.
  • When conducting behavior management training in-home, telepsychiatrists must develop a safety and crisis plan in case the child’s behavior becomes unmanageable during a session.

References

  1. Comer JS, Furr JM, Miguel EM, et al.  Remotely delivering real-time parent training to the home: An initial randomized trial of Internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy (I-PCIT). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2017; 85(9):909-917.
  2. Eyberg SM, Funderburk BW, Hembree-Kigin TL. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with behavior problem children: one and two year maintenance of treatment effects in the family. Child & Family Behavior Therapy. 2001;23(4):1-20.
  3. Sanders MR. Triple P-Positive Parenting Program: Towards an empirically validated multilevel parenting and family support strategy for the prevention of behavior and emotional problems in children. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. 1999; 2 (2): 71–90.  Triple P Official Corporate Site.  https://www.triplep.net/glo-en/home/. Accessed July 1, 2018
  4. Webster-Stratton C, and Reid, MJ The incredible years parents, teachers and children training series: A multifaceted treatment approach for young children with conduct problems. In A. E. Kazdin & J. R. Weisz (Eds.), Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents (pp. 224-240). New York, NY, US: Guilford Press. (2003). The Incredible Years. http://www.incredibleyears.com/programs/  Accessed July 1, 2018