The Effectiveness of Filial Therapy on Empathy in Parent-child Interaction and Problem Behavior of Children with Separation Anxiety Disorder

This study examined the effectiveness of the Filial Therapy program for children with Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Subjects were 8 mother-child dyads each in the experimental and comparison groups. Mann-Whitney U-test and the Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed-Ranks Test were performed following the therapeutic program. After application of the Filial Therapy program, results showed that, compared to the control group, (1) parents of SAD children in the experimental group significantly increased their level of empathic interactions with their children. AND (2) the experimental group children significantly reduced level of somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, and social problems. Conclusions were that Filial Therapy is an effective program for improvement of parent-child relationship of SAD children but not for changing problem behavior of SAD children