NCT06827951

Potential Benefits of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

A Mixed-Methods Approach Utilizing Self-Report Scales and Oxytocin Levels to Determine the Potential Benefits of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Florida · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 89 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this study is to explore possible benefits of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). The main goals of the study are: * To investigate whether pre-survey measures of autonomic reactivity relate to the overall functioning of participants. * To examine the effects of PCIT To identify individual characteristics that influence the effects of PCIT. Participants will: * complete 5 online surveys (1x pre-PCIT, 3x during PCIT, and 1x post-PCIT) * complete the PCIT program

Detailed description

It is the specific intent of this proposal to experimentally explore the possible benefits and mechanisms through which PCIT can influence self-reported stress and autonomic and neuroendocrine functioning in parents. This will be accomplished by our team by using well-validated self-report measures of mental health, autonomic reactivity, parental stress and attachment, and non-invasive measurements of levels of oxytocin. Specific Aim 1: To investigate whether pre-intervention measures of ANS reactivity and the neuropeptides oxytocin relate to the overall functioning of the participants. * The investigators will examine how measures of autonomic reactivity and levels of oxytocin relate to prior mental/medical health. * Hypothesis: Participants with lower levels of oxytocin and/or increased autonomic reactivity will report being more impacted by their prior adversity and having more emotional/physical symptoms. Specific Aim 2: To investigate the impact of PCIT * The investigators will explore whether PCIT leads to improvements in parental stress, parent-child attachment, and parental neuroendocrine functioning. * Hypothesis: Parents will show a significant decrease in perceived stress and improvement in emotional wellbeing oxytocin levels following CDI. They will also show a decrease in perceived stress, and improvement in attachment and emotional wellbeing following the entire PCIT intervention. Specific Aim 3: To identify individual characteristics that influence the effectiveness of PCIT. * The investigators will explore the impact of specific vulnerability and resiliency factors (e.g., stress, prior adversity) on how well parents benefit from PCIT * Hypothesis: Parental stress and prior mental/medical adversity will negatively impact the effectiveness of intervention

Conditions

• Autonomic Dysregulation
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Parent-Child Relations

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)	Participants will undergo the standard PCIT program, which consists of two phases: Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) and Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI). * CDI Phase: Parents will learn and practice techniques that focus on strengthening the parent-child relationship through play and positive reinforcement. * PDI Phase: Parents will be coached in effective discipline strategies to manage their child's behavioral problems.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-14
• Primary completion: 2026-06-01
• Completion: 2026-06-01
• First posted: 2025-02-14
• Last updated: 2026-02-12

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States