Implementing Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) - Evaluation Research

The objective of this study is to evaluate the implementation and use of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) in three centra, with particular focus on its potential effects on the quality of the observable caregiver-child interaction. The three centra included are Telemark Hospital Trust, Department for Child- and Adolescent Psychiatric Health, Child Protective Services in Skien and Child Protective Services in Porsgrunn. The implementation of DDP is being led by Telemark Hospital Trust, while therapists from all centra are being trained in DDP as part of the implementation process. Primarily we aim to identify any changes associated with DDP treatment in the caregiver-child interaction, as measured by the Emotional Availability Scales (EA scales). Our secondary outcome measures assess changes in parental self-efficacy, parental stress, and child emotional and behavioral problems. The research aims are divided in three research questions: Q1: What changes are associated with DDP treatment: Q1.1 the quality of the caregiver-child interaction Q1.2 parental self-efficacy Q1.3 parental stress, Q1.4 child emotional and behavioral problems Based on previous literature, we hypothesize that we will see an increase in the quality of the caregiver-child interaction and parental self-efficacy after completing the DDP treatment, and a decrease in parental stress and child emotional and behavioral problems (Becker-Weidman, A. 2006) In addition to assessing the effects of DDP we will evaluate the implementation of DDP in the three centra, and inform the implementation by collecting information through interviews with patients and clinicians. We aim to answer: Q2: How do children and their caregivers experience DDP as a therapeutic intervention? Q3: How do clinicians experience the training process and the use of DDP as a therapeutic intervention? Based on previous literature, we hypothesize that we will see an increase in the quality of the caregiver-child interaction and parental self-efficacy after completing the DDP treatment, and a decrease in parental stress and child emotional and behavioral problems