Parent-child interaction therapy: application to maltreating parent-child dyads.
OBJECTIVE
Parent-Child Interaction Training (PCIT), which uses a social learning framework, is a dyadic intervention that is designed to alter specific patterns of interaction found in parent-child relationships. Previous research suggests that maladaptive and high-risk characteristics found in maltreating parent-child dyads may be responsive to PCIT. The primary focus of this study is to examine the effectiveness of PCIT with maltreating parent-child dyads.


METHODS
This study describes the effectiveness of PCIT with 136 biological parent-child dyads in which 66.9% (N=91) of the children had been maltreated. Of the 91 maltreated children, 64.8% (N=59) of the parents had maltreated their children, and were thus considered to be at high risk of repeating the abuse.


RESULTS
Primary outcomes of this study show the following: (1) a decrease in child behavior problems, (2) a decrease in parental stress, and (3) a decrease in abuse risk from pre- to post-treatment for dyads with and without a history of maltreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results add to the body of research supporting PCIT as a promising intervention and as a means to aid both children and parents in high-risk families for maltreatment.
Timmer
Susan G
SG
Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis Children's Hospital, CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center, 3300 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95825, USA.
Urquiza
Anthony J
AJ
Zebell
Nancy M
NM
McGrath
Jean M
JM
D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010989:Play Therapy; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D012201:Reward; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome