Outcomes of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Mothers' Reports of Maintenance Three to Six Years After Treatment

Abstract

Examined the long-term maintenance of changes following parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) for young children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and associated behavior disorders. Three to 6 years after treatment, 29 of 50 treatment completers were located for this study. The mothers of 23 children between the ages of 6 and 12 participated in telephone and mail follow-up assessments. Results indicated that the significant changes that mothers reported in their children's behavior and their own locus of control at the end of treatment were maintained at long-term follow-up. Child behavior reported at the posttreatment assessment and length of time since treatment were strong predictors of long-term outcome. Mothers' reports of disruptive behavior decreased with time since treatment. The results of this study support the long-term effectiveness of PCIT.