Compare and contrast Parent Management Training with Family-Based Therapy in addressing conduct problems.

• A. PMT focuses on broader family dynamics and communication.
• B. PMT focuses on parenting skills and behavior management; Family-Based Therapy addresses broader family dynamics and communication; both reduce oppositional behaviors but differ in scope and goals.
• C. PMT involves medication management.
• D. PMT is identical to Family-Based Therapy.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that PMT and Family-Based Therapy differ in what they target and how broadly they address family life. Parent Management Training focuses on teaching parents specific skills for shaping their child’s behavior: consistent rules, predictable routines, clear consequences, and positive reinforcement. It’s centered on parenting practices and how those practices influence the child’s conduct.

Family-Based Therapy, in contrast, takes a wider view of the family system. It addresses communication patterns, problem-solving, alliances among family members, and the overall functioning of the family as a unit. It aims to change how the family interacts and supports one another, not just how the parent responds to the child.

Both approaches can help reduce oppositional or disruptive behaviors because improved parenting and healthier family interactions create a more stable environment for the child. However, PMT is more focused on parenting skills and behavior management, while Family-Based Therapy targets broader family dynamics and communication. PMT does not involve medication management, and it is not identical to Family-Based Therapy.