Internet-Delivered Parent-Child Interaction Therapy in Preschool Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity...

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Behavioral Therapy
• Telehealth Interventions

Background:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in young children leads to significant behavioral challenges.
• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an established parenting program, but access can be limited.
• Internet-delivered PCIT (I-PCIT) offers a potential solution to increase accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of I-PCIT for 4-5-year-old children diagnosed with ADHD.
• To assess the impact of I-PCIT on disruptive behaviors, ADHD symptoms, and parental outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial with 46 participants assigned to I-PCIT or treatment as usual.
• Data collected at baseline, 16 weeks, and 22 weeks.
• Primary outcome: disruptive behavior severity (Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory); secondary outcomes: ADHD symptoms, parenting stress, depression, parenting behavior, and confidence.

Main Results:

• The I-PCIT group demonstrated significantly reduced disruptive behaviors at 16 weeks (p < .001).
• Improvements were observed in parental stress (p = .002) and parenting confidence (p < .001) for the I-PCIT group.
• No significant improvements in ADHD symptoms were directly associated with the I-PCIT intervention.

Conclusions:

• I-PCIT is an effective intervention for reducing disruptive behaviors in preschool children with ADHD.
• The findings support the efficacy of I-PCIT for Japanese children with ADHD.
• I-PCIT positively impacts parental stress and confidence, enhancing the parent-child relationship.