The Effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

The Effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in Treating Behavior Problems in Young Children

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a type of parent-based intervention, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy will lower symptoms of behavior problems in young children more than treatment as usual.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Conduct Disorder; Behavior Problems; Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy; Behavioral: TAU

Detailed Description

Behaviour problems, i.e. symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) are among the prevalent psychiatric disorders in children and one of the leading causes of help-seeking for mental health problems in children. There are several efficacious treatments for such problems in young children. However, most of these require that parents meet in groups. This is not always feasible. It is therefore a need to develop treatments that can deal with parents and families individually. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is such an individually based treatment. Efficacy studies indicate symptom reduction greater that in treatment as usual (TAU). However, there is a need to study its effectiveness in ordinary clinical practise. This trial will study its effect in ordinary psychiatric clinics in the middle of Norway and compare it to the regular treatment (TAU) provided to young children with behavior problems in these clinics.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 63
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Trondheim, Norway, 7057
    • Barne- og ungdomspsykiatrisk klinikk, Sør-Trøndelag
  • Sør-trøndelag
    • Trondheim, Sør-trøndelag, Norway
      • barne- og ungdomspsykiatrisk klinikk, Helse Midt-Norge

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 2 years to 7 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Referred to Child mental health specialty clinic for behavioral or attentional/hyperactive problems
• ECBI score of > 120
• 2 to 7 years of age
• Parental consent to the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Psychosis or serious drug abuse in parents
• Lack of sufficient proficiency in Norwegian to fill in the questionnaires
• Mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorder in the child
• Suspicion of parental neglect or abuse of the child warranting a report to the child protection services

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: PCIT; Provision of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy	Behavioral: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy; Parents will be trained in interaction with their children in ways which foster non-hostility and cooperation in their children. By means of an ear-plug they will receive instruction on how to play and set limits for their child from their therapist who watches the interaction through a one-way mirror. Treatment is given until the parent masters these skill, which commonly takes 15-20 session of 1 hour.
Active Comparator: TAU; Treatment as usual from other therapists in the same clinics	Behavioral: TAU; Usual treatment for behavioral disorders

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI)	ECBI is taken at study entry, after 6 months and after 18 months	Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS)	Parent-child interaction coded from standardized situations	Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
Parenting Stress Index	Number and degree of perceived stresses by parents	Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI)	Parents' attachment to the child	Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
Child Behavior Check List (CBCL)/Teacher Report Form (TRF)	Psychiatric symptoms as rated by parents and teachers, respectively	Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)	Depressive symptoms in parents	Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
Parental Locus of Control - Short Form (PLOC-SF)	Parents' perceptions of internal versus external locus of control	Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• Collaborators: St. Olavs Hospital
• Investigators: Study Director: Lars Wichstrøm, prof, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bjorseth A, Wichstrom L. Effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in the Treatment of Young Children's Behavior Problems. A Randomized Controlled Study. PLoS One. 2016 Sep 13;11(9):e0159845. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159845. eCollection 2016.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 10, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 10, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): March 11, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 15, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 14, 2016
• Last Verified: September 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Depressive symptoms; Psychiatric symptoms; Behavior problems; Attachment; Parent-Child Interaction; Locus of control
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Disease; Problem Behavior; Conduct Disorder; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 4.2006.789