NCT06827951RecruitingAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Potential Benefits of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

University of Florida

Start Date

2/14/2025

Completion Date

6/1/2026

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

Eligibility Criteria

Age Range: 18 years to 89 years

Inclusion Criteria: * Parents of children aged 2-7 years old who are eligible for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) based on behavioral concerns. * The primary caregiver of the child and be actively involved in the child's daily care. * Willing to attend all PCIT sessions and complete pre-, mid- and post-intervention assessments. * Fluent in English to ensure comprehension of the intervention and assessment materials. Exclusion Criteria: * Parents with diagnosed severe mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) that may interfere with participation in PCIT. * Children with conditions that require interventions other than PCIT (e.g., severe developmental disabilities). * Parents who have previously participated in PCIT are excluded to avoid confounding results.

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

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Conditions

Autonomic DysregulationAnxietyDepressionParent-Child Relations

Locations

UF Health Child Psychiatry

Gainesville, Florida 32606

United States

UF Health Psychiatry San Jose

Jacksonville, Florida 32217

United States