The purpose to the current study was to examine the comparative efficacy of a more condensed intensive version of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (I-PCIT; 5 days/week over the course of 2 weeks) versus a more traditional weekly PCIT format (1 day/week over the course of 10 weeks) in treating early childhood externalizing behavior problems (EBP). Using a randomized trial design, 60 young children (M child age = 4.33 years; range 2-6.92; 65% male; 85% Latinx) with elevated levels of EBP and their mothers were assigned to either I-PCIT (n = 30) or traditional PCIT (n = 30). Families completed pre-treatment and post-treatment assessments as well as a follow-up assessment 6-9 months following treatment completion. Across all assessments, mothers completed measures of child behavior, discipline practices, and parenting stress. Observational data on child behavior and parenting was also collected during three 5-minute standard situations that vary in the degree of parental control (child-led play, parent-led play, & clean-up).
The purpose to the current study was to examine the comparative efficacy of a more condensed intensive version of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (I-PCIT; 5 days/week over the course of 2 weeks) versus a more traditional weekly PCIT format (1 day/week over the course of 10 weeks) in treating early childhood externalizing behavior problems (EBP).