The effectiveness of parent-child interaction therapy for families of children on the autism spectrum.
PCIT cuts parent-reported behavior problems and boosts shared smiles in school-age boys with high-functioning autism.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Solomon et al. (2008) tried Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with school-age boys who have high-functioning autism.
They asked parents to play and follow the child's lead for five minutes each day.
Before and after the program, parents filled out rating scales about behavior and mood.
What they found
Parents said their sons showed fewer problem behaviors and more flexible thinking after the sessions.
Parents also smiled more and shared warmer moments with their child during play.
How this fits with other research
Allen et al. (2022) ran a larger, controlled study with similar kids and got the same good results. Their stronger design now supersedes this early pilot.
SVerberg et al. (2022) used the same PCIT steps with preschoolers and still saw gains, showing the method works for younger ages too.
Patton et al. (2020) compared autistic kids to typically developing peers and found PCIT helped both groups equally, backing up the 2008 trend.
Why it matters
You can start PCIT right away without extra autism tweaks. Use the standard coach-and-play steps, track parent warmth with simple 5-minute video checks, and watch for fewer parent-rated behavior problems within a few weeks.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
We report the results of a pilot trial of an evidence-based treatment-Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT; Eyberg et al. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 31(1), 83-91, 1995) for boys aged 5-12 with high functioning autism spectrum disorders and clinically significant behavioral problems. The study also included an investigation of the role of shared positive affect during the course of therapy on child and parent outcomes. The intervention group showed reductions in parent perceptions of child problem behaviors and child atypicality, as well as an increase in child adaptability. Shared positive affect in parent child dyads and parent positive affect increased between the initial and final phases of the therapy. Parent positive affect after the first phase was related to perceptions of improvement in problem behaviors and adaptive functioning.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2008 · doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0567-5