Tele-PCIT for Healthy Relationships in Families At-Risk

Fostering Healthy Relationships Through Tele-PCIT for Families of South Carolina

The study will examine Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) delivered via telehealth (Tele-PCIT) for young children at risk for adverse childhood experiences and/or trauma exposure.

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, engagement, and initial efficacy of time-limited Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) delivered via telehealth (Tele-PCIT) across 40 young children at risk for adverse childhood experiences and/or trauma exposure. The study compares outcomes between families receiving Tele-PCIT (n = 20) and those assigned to a waitlist control (n = 20). All families will complete baseline, post, and follow-up evaluations to assess child behavioral outcomes, parenting outcomes, and trauma symptoms. In order to be eligible children are between 2 and 7 years of age presenting with behavioral concerns and scoring at-risk on childhood averse events measures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Child participants must:

  • Be between 2:0-6:11 years old
  • Have elevated levels of disruptive behavior problems as defined by the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI)
  • Have receptive language appropriate for PCIT (approximately 2-years old)
  • Medicaid eligible, or be uninsured
  • Score of 1 or greater on an ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) measure (PEARLS)

• Parent participants must:

  • Be the child's legal guardian
  • Be able to provide consent for themselves (i.e., have decision making capacity and do not need a legally authorized representative themselves).
  • Must be living with the child

Exclusion Criteria:

• None