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Externalizing behaviors are a common component of the clinical presentation of Autism Spectrum Disorders and are typically the initial focus of treatment for children within this population. This article examines the appropriateness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) as a first-line, gateway treatment for preschoolers with High Functioning Autism who demonstrate co-occurring difficulties with aggressive and noncompliant behavior. Although PCIT has shown initial success in treating children with High Functioning Autism, much of the knowledge is based on clinical case studies thus warranting further empirical research before conclusions can be drawn.

An empirically supported treatment for children with disruptive behavior disorders, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), has received increased interest from policymakers and mental health administrators regarding its cost-effectiveness (i.e., ratio of treatment costs to behavior gains). This paper examines the projected costs and treatment outcomes associated with implementing and completing PCIT and demonstrates favorable cost-effectiveness ratios. For example, start up costs of PCIT, including equipment and training, were estimated at approximately $14,000 and the average cost of providing PCIT from intake to termination was estimated at approximately $1,000 per client. Benefits include clinically significant improvements on multiple measures of disruptive behavior and strong maintenance data, suggesting the PCIT is an effective and financially viable form of treatment for child disruptive behavior disorders.