Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Effectiveness in Home-Based versus Office-Based Settings

Abstract

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment designed to treat disruptive behavior disorders in young children through improving dysfunctional parent–child relationship patterns. Community providers have begun implementing PCIT in various settings to give families greater access to PCIT. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of PCIT when disseminated in two community settings: home and office. To assess whether differences exist between the two settings, data were retrieved from a sample of 74 parent–child dyads who participated in home-based or office-based PCIT at an agency in San Diego, California. Dyads from the home- and office-based groups completed assessment measures at pretreatment and posttreatment. PCIT intervention effectiveness was determined by significant pre- to post-intervention changes and between-group differences in specific parent functioning (i.e., parenting stress, positive parenting behaviors) and child behaviors. Parents who completed in-home PCIT did not demonstrate significant differences in pre- to post-intervention improvements in parent functioning as compared to parents who completed office-based PCIT. Parents who completed in-home PCIT did not report significant differences in pre- to post-intervention reductions in their children’s externalizing behaviors as compared to parents who completed office-based PCIT. Parents who completed in-home PCIT did not report significant pre- to post-intervention increases in their positive parenting behaviors or decreases in their negative parenting behaviors as compared to parents who completed office-based PCIT.