Emotionally focused interventions for couples with chronically ill children: a 2-year follow-up

J Marital Fam Ther. 2002 Oct;28(4):391-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2002.tb00364.x.

Abstract

Couples with chronically ill children are particularly at risk for experiencing marital distress. The study presented here is a 2-year follow-up of a randomized control trial that assessed the efficacy of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) in decreasing marital distress in a sample of couples with a chronically ill child. Thirteen couples with chronically ill children who received treatment were assessed to determine if the significant improvement in relationship distress observed at posttreatment and 5-month follow-up would be maintained at 2-year follow-up. Results demonstrated that improvements in marital functioning were not only maintained but, in some cases, enhanced at the 2-year follow-up. This uncontrolled follow-up study provides initial evidence of the longer-term benefits of EFT.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease / psychology*
  • Cost of Illness*
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marital Therapy / methods*
  • Marriage / psychology*
  • Ontario
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Spouses / psychology
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome