Parent-child interaction therapy with physically abusive parents: efficacy for reducing future abuse reports.
A randomized trial was conducted to test the efficacy and sufficiency of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) in preventing re-reports of physical abuse among abusive parents. Physically abusive parents (N=110) were randomly assigned to one of three intervention conditions: (a) PCIT, (b) PCIT plus individualized enhanced services, or (c) a standard community-based parenting group. Participants had multiple past child welfare reports, severe parent-to-child violence, low household income, and significant levels of depression, substance abuse, and antisocial behavior. At a median follow-up of 850 days, 19% of parents assigned to PCIT had a re-report for physical abuse compared with 49% of parents assigned to the standard community group. Additional enhanced services did not improve the efficacy of PCIT. The relative superiority of PCIT was mediated by greater reduction in negative parent-child interactions, consistent with the PCIT change model.
Department of Pediatrics.
Mark
0000-0002-3620-6583
M
Chaffin
Department of Pediatrics.
Jane F
JF
Silovsky
Department of Pediatrics.
Beverly
B
Funderburk
Department of Pediatrics.
Linda Anne
LA
Valle
Department of Pediatrics.
Elizabeth V
EV
Brestan
Department of Pediatrics.
Tatiana
T
Balachova
Department of Pediatrics.
Shelli
S
Jackson
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Jay
J
Lensgraf
Department of Pediatrics.
Barbara L
BL
Bonner
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*