Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Clinician Assistant and Dissemination Researcher for

Delaware's B.E.S.T.Student: Anna DavisAdvisor: Ryan BeveridgeDepartment: Psychology

My initial questions….

1. What do mental health services for children actually look like in a community setting?

- Clinical experience

2. Why is there a gap between empirical research and practical application of mental health services?

- Research

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy•Evidence-based practice•Developed by Sheila Eyberg in the 1970s•Treats children with emotional or

behavioral problems•Improving the quality of parent-child

relationships by changing parent-child interaction patterns

Who is it for?

2- to 7-year-olds with…•Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)•Conduct Disorder (CD)•Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD)

Key Elements

•Works with parent and child together•Early intervention - reversing patterns

early and improving future outcomes•Not time limited – data driven•Live coaching

Theoretical Bases

•Diana Baumrind’s (1967) research on parent styles

•Virginia Axline’s (1947) research on play

therapy

•Attachment theory

•Social learning theory

Two sections:

1. Child-Directed Interaction-builds a harmonious parent-child

relationship 2. Parent-Directed Interaction

- consistent and predictable outcomes for noncompliance

Child-Directed Interaction

PRIDEPraise

Reflect

Imitate

Describe

Enjoy

Avoid:

1. Questions2. Commands3. Criticism

Parent-Directed Interaction

•Teaches parents a consistent time-out sequence for negative behaviors

PCIT Outcomes•Improved parent-child interactions•Decreased behavioral problems at home•Better child behavior in school•Improved parent behavior and functioning •Possible generalization to siblings

As a Clinician Assistant I:

•Helped set up therapy rooms•Live coded with the therapist•Provided childcare for siblings•Helped clean up•Entered session data

Global perspective

•Science to service gap

Both sides of the coin

As a Research Assistant I created:Clinician Perspective Questionnaire (CPQ)•Feasibility/Financial Concerns•Colleague Use•Supervisor Follow-up•Organizational Support•Motivation•Perceived Role of Therapist•Fit•Activity•Attitudes towards Evidence-Based Practices•Adequacy of Preparation/Training

Future Steps:

•Pilot questionnaire•Refine questionnaire to a

psychometrically valid measure•Distribute questionnaire to all clinicians

trained in PCIT by Delaware’s B.E.S.T.•Analyze data and draw conclusions

Possible uses of data

•Inform/alter training•Inform/alter outreach•Inform/alter follow-up•Increase mutual understanding between

clinicians and researchers•Understand practical roadblocks to

implementation to resolve them•Find predictors of a good therapist

Thank you for everyone who made this experience great!

•My adviser: Ryan Beveridge•My colleagues at Delaware’s BEST: Tim

Fowles, Gina Circo, and Josh Masse•The therapists I assisted: Carly Yasinski,

Stevie Grassetti, Rachael Koch, and Beth Higley

Works CitedBrestan, E.V., Eyberg, S. M., Boggs, S., & Algina, J. (1997).

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Parent perceptions of untreated siblings. Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 19, 13-28.

Connor Smith, J.K. & Weisz J.R. (2003). Applying treatment outcome research in clinical practice: Techniques for adapting interventions to the real world. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 8, 3–10.

McNeil, C.B. & Hembree-Kigin, T.L. (2010). Parent-child interaction therapy (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Science + Business Media, LLC.

pcit.org Thomas, R. & Zimmer-Gembeck, M.J. (2007). Behavioral

outcomes of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Triple P – Positive Parenting Program: A review and meta-analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35, 475-495.