Effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Delivered to At-Risk Families in the Home Setting

An evaluation was conducted for 83 parent-child dyads who participated in parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) delivered in-home by community agency therapists. Data included self-report measures and therapist observations at baseline and post-treatment. Results indicated significant positive changes in child/parent behavior and parent attitudes for dyad completers. Overall, parents who completed in-home PCIT reported significantly more positive child outcomes than noncompleters and had a significantly lower risk of child abuse. Implications for implementing PCIT into community practice are discussed, including reducing barriers, in-home modifications, and model fidelity in practice with high-risk communities.