68.3 LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION THERAPY ON ADHD SYMPTOMS

Abstract

This study examines the long-term effects of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) on female and male caregiver ratings of ADHD symptoms, as well as on observational interaction measures in preschoolers randomized to individual or group PCIT. Data from 128 children participating in treatment were examined (mean age at study entry = 4.8 years). Children with ADHD, half of whom also met the criteria for disruptive behavior disorder (DBD), were randomized to group or individual PCIT and outcomes were assessed posttreatment as well as 1 and 2 years after treatment completion. Pretreatment and posttreatment measures included: 1) parent rating scales, like the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Externalizing Problems Subscale; the SNAP-IV; the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) Intensity Score; and the Columbia Impairment Scale (CIS); and 2) observations of the parent-child interaction using the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS). PCIT results in clinically and statistically significant improvements in ADHD symptoms and reductions in impairment as rated by female and male caregivers. There are no differences in outcomes at posttreatment between children with and without DBD, or between those in individual or group PCIT. For both PCIT treatment formats, improvements are maintained at 1- and 2-year follow-up on all caregiver measures, including ADHD-specific ratings, externalizing behavior ratings, CIS scores, and observational measures of parent-child interactions. ADHD symptom reduction is not an original goal of PCIT intervention, yet significant improvements occur in ADHD symptoms based on both caregivers’ reports and observational data. These findings suggest that PCIT may be an effective treatment for the behavioral and attentional symptoms of ADHD in preschoolers with or without DBD and that it merits further study as a promising intervention for preschoolers with ADHD.