Hannah Cribben - Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of doctor of clinical psychology (DClinPsych)

ABSTRACTS
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
TITLE: THE EFFECTIVENESS AND ACCEPABILITY OF PARENTING INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CHILD MALTREATMENT IN THE UK: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Objectives:
Evidence regarding the effectiveness and acceptability of parenting programs to reduce maltreatment in the UK is limited; there are no NICE guidelines for these interventions, and it is an area consistently highlighted as needing further research. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of parenting interventions in the UK based on reported outcome measures and uptake/drop-out data.
Method:
Five databases were searched and PRISMA guidelines were followed throughout. Studies were included if they were published in a scientific journal or official report, were based in the UK, evaluated an intervention for reducing the risk of child maltreatment with parents/caregivers of a child aged 0-17, and reported quantitative outcomes relating to the impact of the intervention.
Results:
19 studies were identified for inclusion in this review. The interventions were based on a range of theoretical underpinnings and evaluated for use with heterogeneous populations including specific at-risk samples, maltreating parents, and the general population.
Conclusion:
The existing evidence is not robust enough to draw firm conclusions regarding the effectiveness and acceptability of parenting interventions to reduce child maltreatment in the UK. Further gold-standard research is needed to inform evidence-based guidelines.
SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
TITLE: IMPROVING SUPPORT FOR PARENTS WHO ARE ACCESSING TREATMENT IN BERKSHIRE TRAUMATIC STRESS SERVICE
Background: Research suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can impact upon parenting practices and parent-child relationships. As such, parents accessing psychological treatment for PTSD have specific parenting needs but it is currently unknown how best to meet these needs within services. The aim of this study was to understand the experiential perspectives of parents receiving treatment for PTSD and to make specific recommendations for meeting parents’ needs.
Procedure: Semi-structured interviews with 10 parents currently accessing support in a traumatic stress service were conducted. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using an inductive approach. A focus group was held with clinical staff to establish a list of feasible recommendations.
Main findings: Five key themes were identified: i) parental role, ii) parent-child relationships, iii) challenges with service provision, iv) positive service provision and v) future directions for service provision. Recommendations were made in terms of considering parental needs at all stages of service provision: assessment, formulation, intervention and service consultation.
Conclusion: The findings highlight unmet needs for parents currently accessing support for PTSD. A whole-family approach to service provision is required to improve support for parents and their families.
THEORY DRIVEN RESEARCH PROJECT
TITLE: INVESTIGATING THE COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIOURAL PROFILES OF ADOLESCENTS WITH EMETOPHOBIA COMPARED TO PANIC DISORDER
Purpose: Emetophobia (vomit phobia) is often misdiagnosed in clinical populations; one key differential diagnostic profile is panic disorder. The purpose of the present research was to explore key cognitions and safety seeking behaviours in adolescents with emetophobia compared to panic disorder, to contribute to improved clinical assessment and formulation.
Method: A cross-sectional, self-report methodology was used with between-group analyses in a community sample of clinically significant emetophobia (n = 28), panic disorder (n = 23) and healthy control (n = 22) adolescents.
Results: The emetophobia group reported greater endorsements of the belief that, when anxious, they will be sick relative to panic disorder participants and healthy controls. Emetophobia participants also reported greater endorsements of the feared aversive consequences of vomiting relative to panic disorder participants and healthy controls. There was no difference between clinical participants in their endorsement of non-sickness related beliefs. There was no significant difference in the reported use of emetophobia- and panic-related safety seeking behaviours in the emetophobia group, whilst the panic group reported significantly greater use of disorder specific safety seeking behaviours relative to emetophobia-specific behaviours.

Advisor: McFarlane, F
Walters, S
Farrington, A
Anderson, C
King, D