This study explored predictors of treatment response and attrition in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Participants were 99 families of 3- to 6-year-old conduct-disordered children. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify those pretreatment demographic factors, parent-related factors, and child-related factors that were predictive of response/attrition. For all study participants, wait-list group assignment and maternal age were the significant predictors of response/attrition. For treatment participants (study participants excluding those who dropped out after the initial evaluation but before treatment began), only the maternal direct command ratio during structured play was a significant predictor of treatment response/attrition. These results suggest that for studies of conduct-disordered preschoolers, the benefits of using a wait-list control group in treatment outcome investigations may be outweighed by the disproportionate number of dropouts from this group. Once families begin PCIT, however, parent-related variables, particularly maternal demandingness, become salient in predicting treatment outcome.

Child Study Lab
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology
University of Florida
P.O. Box 100165
Gainesville, FL 32610
Phone (352) 265-0680 x 46878
E-mail: seyberg@hp.ufl.edu
© 2001 University of Florida
Last updated: March 07, 2006.