Prise en charge des troubles du comportement du jeune enfant par le programme Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Abstract

Behavioral disorders in preschool children have negative repercussions for families and children. Across the Atlantic, many Parent Management Training (PMT) programs have emerged over the last 40 years. These are evidence-based interventions, recommended for the management of children's behavioral disorders. Literature findings Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), recently translated into French, is a PMT providing in-vivo coaching, based on attachment and behavioral theories. PCIT is structured into two distinct intervention phases: the child-directed interaction, and the parent-directed interaction. Each phase begins with a parental skill teach session, followed by in vivo coaching sessions, where parent and child dyads together. It is a brief therapy (14 sessions on average), individualized, and adapted to families' difficulties. Numerous studies and meta-analyses highlight high effect sizes, equal to or greater than existing PMT. Discussion Although PMT is a best-practice treatment for behavioral disorders, and although attrition rates are low compared to other forms of child psychotherapy, treatment retention remains a concern. Promising adaptations of PCIT are now also being studied: in-home, intensive, short format or remotely. Conclusion PCIT can therefore allow many professionals to develop a stronger repertoire of effective treatment for childhood behavior disorders.