Meta-analysis of the Efficacy and Effectiveness of Parent Child Interaction Therapy for Child Behaviour Problems

Background: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a well-established treatment for behavioural, hyperactivity and oppositional-defiant problems in children. Previous meta-analyses are scarce, and they have tended to mix problems and measures. Objective: A meta-analysis study was conducted with all available studies on PCIT (1980 to 2020) to determine its specific efficacy and effectiveness for child behavioural problems. Method: Selection from databases collected a total of 100 studies. The inclusion criteria were to compare PCIT in children with behavioural problems between 2 and 12 years of age; comparing groups and using standardized instruments. Results: PCIT exhibited a significant mean effect size (d = -0.87 [95% CI: -1.10, -0.63] versus control and/or treatment-as-usual groups, but the effect size was smaller and not significant in follow-ups (d = -0.23 [95% CI: -0.49, 0.04]). The within-group studies, comparing versions of PCIT, also demonstrated a significant effect size (d = -0.26 (95% CI: -0.43, -0.08), and in pre-post comparisons this effect was greater (d = -1.40 [95% CI: -1.69, -1.10]). Conclusions: PCIT is an effective intervention for treating child behaviour problems such as disruptive, hyperactive, negative, and externalizing problems. It is supported by 40 years of experimental and clinical studies, and also by this meta-analysis. Keywords: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy; PCIT; meta-analysis; behaviour problems; disruptive; hyperactivity; children. Meta-analisis Sobre la Eficacia y Efectividad de la Terapia de Interaction Padres-Hijos (PCIT) Para Problemas de Conducta Infantil. Antecedentes: la Terapia de Interaccion Padres-Hijos (PCIT) es un tratamiento bien establecido para los problemas de conducta infantil. Los meta-analisis previos son escasos y mezclan problemas y medidas. Objetivo: realizar un meta-analisis con todos los estudios disponibles sobre PCIT (1980 a 2020) para conocer su eficacia y efectividad sobre los problemas de conducta infantil. Metodo: la seleccion final recogid 100 estudios. Los criterios de inclusion fueron: comparar la PCIT en ninos con diversos problemas de conducta; comparar grupos y utilizar instrumentos estandarizados. Resultados: PCIT ha mostrado un tamano del efecto medio significativo (d = -0,87 [IC 95%: -1,10, -0,63] frente a grupos de control y/o tratamientos usuales; pero ha sido menor y no significativo en los seguimientos (d = -0,23 [IC 95%: -0,49, 0,04]). Los estudios que comparan versiones