Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
7068647 
Journal Article 
Early Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 'Early PACT' for parents of infants with cerebral palsy: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial 
Whittingham, K; Sheffield, J; Mak, C; Dickinson, C; Boyd, RN; , 
2020 
1 
BMJ Open
EISSN: 2044-6055 
BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP 
LONDON 
English 
33039994 
WOS:000582256700005 
New international clinical practice guidelines exist for identifying infants at high risk of cerebral palsy (CP) earlier: between 12 to 24 weeks corrected age, significantly earlier than previous diagnosis windows in Australia at 19 months. The earlier detection of infants at high risk of CP creates an opportunity for earlier intervention. The quality of the parent-infant relationship impacts various child outcomes, and is leveraged in other forms of intervention. This paper presents the protocol of a randomised controlled trial of an online parent support programme, Early Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Early PACT) for families of infants identified as at high risk of CP. We predict that participating in the Early PACT programme will be associated with improvements in the parent-infant relationship, in parent mental health and well-being as well as infant behaviour and quality of life.