Child-Directed Interaction Training for Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Parent and Child Outcomes

Abstract

This study examined the efficacy of the Child-Directed Interaction Training (CDIT) phase of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Thirty mother-child dyads with children ages 3-7 years with a diagnosis of ASD participated in this randomized controlled study. Following manualized CDIT, statistically significant and meaningful improvements in child disruptive behavior and social awareness as well as maternal distress associated with child disruptive behavior occurred. Across 8 sessions, mothers learned to provide positive attention to their children's appropriate social and play behaviors. Both child and parent changes were maintained at 6-week follow-up. A relatively brief, time-limited, and accessible intervention may be efficacious for improving child and parent behaviors in families of young children with ASD. By decreasing child disruptive behaviors, CDIT may also help to prepare children to benefit further from future interventions.

Measuring Changes in Social Communication Behaviors: Preliminary Development of the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC)

“…Any changes in a child's behavior during an interaction with a parent must be considered in light of changes in parental behavior. Several studies confirm that the parent-child interaction is bi-directional--the child's behaviors impact the parent and vice versa (Ginn, Clionsky, Eyberg, Warner-Metzger, & Abner, 2015;Rutgers, Bakermans-Kranenburg, van Ijzendoorn, & van Berckelaer-Onnes, 2004;Siller & Sigman, 2008;Slaughter & Ong, 2014;Zhou & Yi, 2014). A recent parent-focused intervention study found that changes in ASD symptoms, as measured by the ADOS CSS, were mediated by parental synchrony (Pickles et al, 2015).…”

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Theory and Research to Practice

“…PCIT has been found to be effective in reducing child externalizing behavior problems, as well as increasing child compliance, enhancing the parent child relationship, and reducing parenting stress [28,29]. In addition to children with externalizing behavior problems, PCIT and adaptations of PCIT have been shown to be effective with other at-risk child populations, such as children with early developmental or neurodevelopmental delays [30][31][32][33], anxiety [34][35][36], and depression [37,38]. PCIT also has been shown to be effective in increasing maternal sensitivity and positive interactions in parents at risk for maltreatment and abuse [39,40], as well as in children and families from ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds, such as Puerto Rican [41], Mexican-American [42,43], Alaskan native [44], Chinese [45], and Norweigan families [46] to name a few.…”

An evaluation of the Cygnet parenting support programme for parents of children with autism spectrum conditions

“…The scale is widely used in studies of children with autism (e.g. Ginn et al, 2015;Sofronoff & Farbotko, 2002;Whittingham, 2009) and has been found to be sensitive to change following an intervention (Webster-Stratton & Hammond, 1997 indicates agreement with each item (1=strongly disagree to 6=strongly agree). Seven items are reverse coded so that a higher score represents increased parenting confidence.…”