Physical Abuse Treatment Outcome Project: Application of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to Physically Abusive Parents

This project was a randomized clinical trial designed to test the efficacy and sufficiency of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in preventing re-reports of physical abuse among physically abusive parents entering the child welfare system. One hundred ten physically abusive parents and their abused children were randomly assigned to one of three intervention conditions: 1) A modified PCIT-based parenting program, 2) The same modified PCIT-based program plus individualized wrap-around services, and 3) a community parenting group program that is representative of current standard care in the field. Pre- and post-test measures of the family were taken. Areas of assessment included depression, severity of abuse and neglect, internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors, child abuse potential, parent drug and alcohol disorders, parent-child interaction, parent and child intelligence, child’s perception of parent behaviors, and parent’s willingness to change behavior. A demographics questionnaire was also administered and a review of child maltreatment reports was conducted.

Investigators: Mark Chaffin, Ph.D.

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK