Parent–Child Interaction Therapy-Callous Unemotional Adaptation for a Preschool Boy With Conduct Problems

Abstract

Young children with conduct problems (CPs) and elevated callous unemotional (CU) traits (CP+CU) show more severe, stable, and aggressive CPs relative to children with CP traits alone. Children with CP+CU tend to benefit less from traditional treatment modalities for child CPs that rely on social attention and punishments compared with children with CP-alone, but respond well to reward-based behavioral management strategies. Emerging research suggests that the Parent–Child Interaction Therapy-Callous Unemotional adaptation (PCIT-CU) may be a compelling mechanistically targeted intervention for young children with CP+CU. This case study presents the treatment of a 4½-year-old boy with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder–combined presentation (ADHD-C), and CU traits using PCIT-CU. Findings from this case study include (a) improvement in CP that was maintained at 4-month follow-up, (b) reduced parent ratings of CU traits over the course of treatment, (c) reduced negative parenting practices, and (d) preliminary support for adapting parent behavioral management training interventions for young children with CP+CU and comorbid ADHD-C.