An Open Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Group and Individual Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Abstract

Background: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based treatment for children with disruptive behavior, has limited research investigating its efficacy for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Objective: This study compared group and individual PCIT for young children with ADHD with and without co-occurring disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs).

Method: This open randomized controlled trial examined group and individual PCIT for 4-6-year-old children (n = 128) with ADHD with and without co-occurring DBDs at pre-treatment, post-treatment, one- and two-year follow-up.

Results: Parent-reported disruptive behavior and ADHD symptomatology decreased following treatment, regardless of diagnosis or format, with improvements maintained at follow-up. For children with ADHD only, individual PCIT resulted in higher rates of reliable change in disruptive behavior compared to group PCIT. Individual and group PCIT appear to be effective treatments for children with ADHD with or without DBDs. Most children experienced clinically significant ADHD symptom improvement following PCIT, though rates of reliable improvement in disruptive behavior appear greater in children with ADHD only.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential utility of PCIT in both individual and group formats for treating childhood ADHD symptoms and co-occurring disruptive behavior. While this study suggests PCIT may be beneficial as a treatment option for children with ADHD, potentially reducing reliance on medication-based treatments, further research is needed to confirm these results and their generalizability to non-parental contexts.