Parent-Child Interaction Therapy With Behavior Problem Children: Relative Effectiveness of Two Stages and Overall Treatment Outcome

Abstract

Evaluated the effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for 24 mother-child dyads. Families received 14 weekly sessions of PCIT, with half receiving Child-Directed Interaction training first (CDI-First group) and half receiving Parent-Directed Interaction training first (PDI-First group). At midtreatment, the PDI training stage was more effective than the CDI stage for reducing noncompliance and disruptiveness. The groups were also compared at posttreatment to examine the impact of stage sequence. The PDI-First group was more improved on parent report of conduct problems, and mothers were more satisfied with therapy. The two groups were combined to examine overall treatment outcome. Families moved from outside normal limits to within normal limits on compliance, conduct problems, activity level, and maternal stress, and showed improvement in internalizing problems and child self-esteem. Gains were maintained at 6-week follow-up.