Children with mental illness commonly live with caregivers who suffer from mental illness. Integrated mental-health-treatment approaches can provide more convenient and comprehensive care for families. This case report describes family-based treatment (FBT) for one parent/child dyad. The parent was a 37-year-old female with a history of anxiety and major depressive disorder and concern for symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The child was an 8-year-old female with generalized anxiety disorder and concern for ADHD and behavioral problems. The parent received individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and parent management training. The child received CBT. Both also received medication management. The FBT team met regularly for coordinated treatment planning. Self-reported assessments via the Child Behavior Checklist showed meaningful improvement; anxiety decreased to nonclinical range week 12 and depression decreased to nonclinical range week 8. Clinician assessments showed improvement for both patients. Though more time intensive, FBT can yield significant improvement, particularly for children. Pragmatic approaches to treatment planning are important to minimize barriers to FBT.
Keywords: cognitive behavioral therapy; family-based treatment; parent management training.