The Effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Official Title: “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.

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.

Intervention(s) in this Clinical Trial

• 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.
• Behavioral: TAU
  • Usual treatment for behavioral disorders

Arms, Groups and Cohorts in this Clinical Trial

• Experimental: PCIT
  • Provision of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
• Active Comparator: TAU
  • Treatment as usual from other therapists in the same clinics

Primary Measures

• Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI)
  • Time Frame: Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
    Safety Issue?: No

Secondary Measures

• Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS)
  • Time Frame: Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Parenting Stress Index
  • Time Frame: Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI)
  • Time Frame: Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Child Behavior Check List (CBCL)/Teacher Report Form (TRF)
  • Time Frame: Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
  • Time Frame: Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Parental Locus of Control - Short Form (PLOC-SF)
  • Time Frame: Pre intervention, 6 months, 18 months
    Safety Issue?: No

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

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Both

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 2 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: 7 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: No

Lead Investigator: Norwegian University of Science and Technology Other

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 12, 2012

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01085305

Study ID Number: 4.2006.789

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01085305

Health Authority: Norway: Data Inspectorate