edwards

PCIT

Using a quasi-experimental design, this study examined longitudinal outcomes for families previously enrolled in a study of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a treatment program for young children with disruptive behavior disorders. Comparisons were made between 23 families who dropped out of PCIT prematurely and 23 families who completed treatment using a structured diagnostic interview, several parent-report measures, and, for a subset of the sample, teacher-report measures. Length of follow-up for both groups ranged from 10 to 30 months after the initial assessment, with the average length of follow-up just under 20 months. Results indicated significantly poorer long-term outcomes for those who dropped out of treatment compared with those who completed treatment. These results highlight the need to identify salient predictors of treatment engagement and retention to maximize outcomes for young children.