RESUMEN
CONTEXT: Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) is effective at reducing children's externalizing behavior. However, modifications are often made to PCIT, and it is not known whether these impact effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and meta-analyze the effects of PCIT on child externalizing behaviors, considering modifications, study design, and bias. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Education Resources Information Center, Sociological Abstracts, and A+ Education. STUDY SELECTION: We selected randomized controlled or quasi-experimental trials. DATA EXTRACTION: We analyzed child externalizing and internalizing behaviors, parent stress, parent-child interactions, PCIT format, and study design and/or characteristics. RESULTS: We included 23 studies (1144 participants). PCIT was superior to control for reducing child externalizing (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]:-1.17 to -0.58). PCIT studies that required skill mastery had significantly greater reductions in externalizing behavior than those that did not (Mastery: SMD: -1.09, 95% CI: -1.44 to -0.73; Nonmastery: SMD: -0.51,95% CI: -0.85 to -0.17, P = .02). Compared with controls, PCIT significantly reduced parent-related stress (mean difference [MD]: -6.98, 95% CI: -11.69 to -2.27) and child-related stress (MD: -9.87, 95% CI: -13.64 to -6.09). Children in PCIT were observed to be more compliant to parent requests (SMD: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.50 to 1.28) compared with controls. PCIT effectiveness did not differ depending on session length, location (academic versus community settings), or child problems (disruptive behaviors only compared with disruptive behavior and other problems). LIMITATIONS: Results for parent-child observations were inconsistently reported, reducing the ability to pool important data. CONCLUSIONS: PCIT has robust positive outcomes across multiple parent-reported and observed parent-child interaction measures, and modifications may not be required even when implemented in diverse populations.
Asunto(s)
Terapia Conductista , Trastornos de la Conducta Infantil/terapia , Relaciones Padres-Hijo , Niño , Humanos , Responsabilidad Parental/psicología , Estrés Psicológico/prevención & controlRESUMEN
Although many interventions for child externalizing behavior report promising outcomes for families, high attrition prior to program completion remains a problem. Many programs report dropout rates of 50% or higher. In this trial we sought to reduce attrition and improve outcomes by augmenting a well-known evidence-based intervention, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), with a 3-session individual motivational enhancement component. Participants were 192 Australian caregivers (91.7% female; Mage = 34.4 years) and their children (33.3% female; Mage = 4.4 years). Families (51% referred from child welfare or health services for risk of maltreatment) were assigned to PCIT or a supported waitlist, with families assigned to PCIT receiving either standard PCIT (S/PCIT) or motivation-enhanced PCIT (M/PCIT), depending on their time of entry to the study. Waitlist families received phone calls every week for 12 weeks. Parents in M/PCIT reported more readiness to change their behavior from preassessment to after the motivation sessions. Also, parents who reported high, rather than low, motivation at preassessment did have a lower attrition rate, and there was some evidence that enhancing motivation was protective of premature attrition to the extent that caregivers achieved a high degree of change in motivation. Yet comparison of attrition rates and survival analyses revealed no difference between M/PCIT and S/PCIT in retention rate. Finally, there were greater reductions in externalizing and internalizing child behavior problems and parental stress among families in S/PCIT and M/PCIT compared with waitlist, and there was generally no significant difference between the two treatment conditions.