An Open Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Group and Individual Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Preschoolers...

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Behavioral Therapy
• Clinical Psychiatry

Background:

• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment for disruptive behavior.
• Limited research exists on PCIT's efficacy for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of group versus individual PCIT for young children with ADHD.
• To examine PCIT's impact on ADHD with and without co-occurring disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs).

Main Methods:

• An open randomized controlled trial involving 128 children aged 4-6 with ADHD.
• Assessment occurred at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and one- and two-year follow-ups.
• Evaluated parent-reported disruptive behavior and ADHD symptomatology.

Main Results:

• Both group and individual PCIT reduced disruptive behavior and ADHD symptoms, with sustained improvements.
• Individual PCIT led to higher reliable change rates in disruptive behavior for children with ADHD only.
• Most children showed clinically significant ADHD symptom improvement, but disruptive behavior improvement varied by diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• PCIT, in both group and individual formats, is a potentially effective treatment for childhood ADHD and co-occurring disruptive behaviors.
• PCIT may offer a non-pharmacological approach for managing ADHD symptoms.
• Further research is needed to confirm findings and generalizability.