Beyond the Tag: A Parent Training Experience in the Healthcare Field

Abstract

Behavioral difficulties related to internalizing neurodevelopmental disorders represent one of the main areas of work in clinical practice within pediatric services (Steiner & Remsing, 2007). From 2013 to 2023, there has been an increase in triage visits for behavioral difficulties in the ASL TO3, from 6 to 40 cases per year. Data from the company database show increasing diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder-ODD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-ADHD, and Conduct Disorder-CD in recent years. Therefore, the Pediatric Psychology SSC Service of TO3 decided to work indirectly on the management of dysfunctional behaviors and emotional self-regulation of children aged 3 to 11 years, by activating Parent Training groups oriented to ACT for parents of children who come to triage with symptoms that suggest the presence of ADHD, ODD, or CD, or having a diagnosis themselves. The goal of the intervention was to reduce parental stress, frustration and feeling of loneliness, hyperactivity and compositionality of the children involved, as well as internalizing difficulties and increasing caregiver awareness of possible appropriate educational strategies. The activation of the Parent Training pilot project within an outpatient pathway of the National Health Service has allowed a wide range of the population to be reached, optimizing resources and time to meet the parents’ needs. The results obtained before and after the Parent Training intervention prove its effectiveness.