Parent-Child Interaction Therapy in a Community Setting: Examining Outcomes, Attrition, and Treatment Setting.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) deployed in a community setting comparing in-home with the standard office-based intervention. Child behavior, parent stress, parent functioning, and attrition were examined.


METHODS
Using a quasi-experimental design, standardized measures at three time points were collected from parent-child dyads (n=120) with thirty-seven families completing treatment.


RESULTS
Growth modeling analyses indicate significant improvements in child and parent outcomes in both treatment settings with more rapid improvements in parent outcomes within office-based treatment. Attrition was predicted by income and parent functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
PCIT delivered in the community can produce measureable improvements. In-home PCIT is a feasible option but future research should consider benefits and costs. Treatment completion remains a challenge.
Center for Violence and Injury Prevention, Brown School of Social Work, CB1196, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO.
Paul
P
Lanier
Center for Violence and Injury Prevention, Brown School of Social Work, CB1196, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO.
Patrica L
PL
Kohl
Family Resource Center, 3309 S. Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO.
Joan
J
Benz
Family Resource Center, 3309 S. Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO.
Dawn
D
Swinger
Family Resource Center, 3309 S. Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO.
Pam
P
Moussette
Center for Violence and Injury Prevention, Brown School of Social Work, CB1196, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO.
Brett
B
Drake
child welfare; children; community intervention; evidence-based practice; intervention; quantitative