Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice (2006) 12,3–12 Outcomes of Prolonged Parent–Child Embrace Therapy among 102 children with behavioral disorders Martha G. Welch a,Ã , Robert S. Northrup b , Thomas B. Welch-Horan c , Robert J. Ludwig a , Christine L. Austin d , Judith S. Jacobson e a The Martha G. Welch Center, New York, NY, USA b Project Hope, Millwood, VA, USA c Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA d KC Mothering Center, Kansas City, MO, USA e Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, USA KEYWORDS Adoption; Treatment; Reactive attachment disorder; Oppositional defiant disorder; Attention deficit hyperactive disorder Summary A growing body of research in neuroscience points to the impact of variations in maternal nurturing on child development and provides a rationale for interventions that target stress adaptation conditioning through natural family nurturing. This pilot study was collected within the course of private practice to assess the progress of children with severe behavioral disorders who were treated effectively with a multiple family therapy prototype, Prolonged Parent–Child Embrace (PPCE) Therapy. Subjects were a consecutive series of 102 patient children aged 4–18 years and their families. Children and their family members were guided for 16h over two consecutive days through intense PPCE Therapy. Families were instructed to continue PPCE Therapy at home for at least 1 year. Scores were compared statistically using t-tests and analysis of variance. For 96 children scores declined on two written measures by approximately 50% between baseline and follow-up (Po0.001). Results showed that PPCE Therapy resulted in significant and prolonged improvements in symptomatic behavior in a majority of children. & 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Introduction A growing body of research in neuroscience points to the impact that variations in maternal nurturing can have on development. 1–3 Absence of sufficient maternal nurture adversely influences the mechan- isms of development that regulate the expression ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevierhealth.com/journals/ctnm 1744-3881/$ - see front matter & 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2005.09.004 Ã Corresponding author. NYPI Unit 42, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10021, USA. Tel.: + 1 212 543 5101; fax: + 1 212 861 6816. E-mail address: mgw13@columbia.edu (M.G. Welch).