Parent Coaching for Parent-Child Relationship

(PEACHY Trial)

Overseen By Lauren M Bylsma, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Disqualifiers: Bipolar, Psychotic, Psychiatric, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 5 weeks

180 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Parent Encouragement and Coaching of Happiness in Youth?

Research shows that combining therapy sessions for children with caregiver-child sessions can significantly improve child depression symptoms and caregiver-child relationships. Additionally, coaching techniques in parent-child interaction therapy have been shown to improve parenting skills and engagement, suggesting that similar approaches in the Parent Encouragement and Coaching of Happiness in Youth treatment could be effective. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is parent coaching for improving parent-child relationships safe for participants?

The studies reviewed did not report any safety concerns related to parent coaching interventions, suggesting they are generally safe for participants. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does the Parent Encouragement and Coaching of Happiness in Youth treatment differ from other treatments for improving parent-child relationships?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on coaching parents to enhance their relationship with their children by promoting happiness and positive interactions, which is culturally tailored and designed for nonwestern populations. Unlike other treatments, it emphasizes brief, community-based interventions that are feasible and culturally appropriate, aiming to improve satisfaction with the parent-child relationship. ^{11 12 13 14 15}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this mechanistic clinical trial is to examine whether parent-coaching aimed at increasing child positive affect will increase child neural response to reward. The main questions it aims to answer are: Aim 1. Characterize child neural reward response and its relation to maternal socialization of positive emotions at baseline in healthy young children. Aim 2. Evaluate how coaching-related changes in maternal socialization of positive emotion expression contribute to increases in child neural reward response over time. Aim 3. Examine how maternal socialization of positive emotion expression contributes to increases in child neural reward response in the moment. Participating mother-child dyads will be randomized to either 3 sessions of parent coaching of child positive affect or 3 sessions of a general parenting support intervention and neural response to reward and affective behavior will be examined pre and post intervention.

Research Team

Judith M Morgan, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Lauren M. Bylsma, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for mother-child pairs where the child is healthy but may need help with positive emotions. The mothers will be trained to encourage happiness in their children. Families must be able to attend three sessions and agree to brain scans for the kids.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a biological female.

I provide care for the child in the study more than half the time.

I have been diagnosed with significant depression.

Exclusion Criteria

Lifetime history of a bipolar disorder

Lifetime history of a psychotic disorder

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive 3 sessions of either parent coaching of child positive affect or general parenting support intervention

5 weeks

3 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in child neural reward response and maternal socialization behaviors

5 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Parent Encouragement and Coaching of Happiness in Youth

Trial Overview The study tests if coaching moms on how to boost their kids' happiness can affect the children's brain reactions to rewards. Half of the participants get specific parent coaching, while the other half receive general parenting advice.

Participant Groups

Group I: Parent Coaching Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Parents will receive 3 sessions based on PCIT-ED aimed at increasing child positive affect.

Group II: Active Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Parents will receive 3 sessions based on traditional PCIT providing more general parenting supporting, including basic psychoeducation and parenting skills.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Findings from Research

The Therapist-Parent Interaction Coding System (TPICS) effectively captures various coaching techniques used by therapists during Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), based on an analysis of 61 video-recorded sessions.

The study found that responsive coaching techniques, such as providing praise, helped improve parents' skills between sessions, while directive coaching methods did not show the same effect, indicating the importance of tailored feedback in enhancing parenting behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing the Key to Effective Coaching in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: The Therapist-Parent Interaction Coding System. Barnett, ML., Niec, LN., Acevedo-Polakovich, ID.[2021]

The 2-day intensive Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) significantly improved parental self-efficacy and reduced barriers to involvement in their child's recovery, based on data from 124 parents collected before, immediately after, and 4 months post-intervention.

Children whose parents participated in EFFT showed significant improvements in their mental health symptoms, indicating that this therapy could be effective for various clinical issues in youth.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief Emotion Focused Family Therapy: An Intervention for Parents of Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Issues. Foroughe, M., Stillar, A., Goldstein, L., et al.[2020]

A systematic review of 52 studies highlights that effective parenting interventions, from the prenatal period to adolescence, can significantly improve both parenting quality and children's mental health outcomes.

The review emphasizes the need for skilled professionals to implement these evidence-based programs and calls for further research to develop targeted interventions for high-risk groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parenting for mental health: what does the evidence say we need to do? Report of Workpackage 2 of the DataPrev project. Stewart-Brown, SL., Schrader-McMillan, A.[2011]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing the Key to Effective Coaching in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: The Therapist-Parent Interaction Coding System. [2021]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Generating nonnegative attitudes among parents of depressed adolescents: The power of empathy, concern, and positive regard. [2008]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief Emotion Focused Family Therapy: An Intervention for Parents of Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Issues. [2020]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Successful Therapist-Parent Coaching: How In Vivo Feedback Relates to Parent Engagement in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. [2018]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combining individual cognitive behaviour therapy and caregiver-child sessions for childhood depression: an open trial. [2018]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A longitudinal examination of positive parenting following an acceptance-based couple intervention. [2018]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protocol for the Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial of Being a Parent- Enjoying Family Life (BAP-EFL): A peer-led group intervention for parents and caregivers with significant emotional and interpersonal difficulties. [2023]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Happy Family Kitchen II: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Community-Based Family Intervention for Enhancing Family Communication and Well-being in Hong Kong. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A cluster randomized controlled trial of more appreciation and less criticism in Hong Kong parents. [2021]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impacts of a book reading club intervention on enhancing parents' positive thinking. [2015]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Brief Parenting Intervention to Enhance the Parent-Child Relationship in Hong Kong: Harmony@Home. [2021]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Strategy for promoting greater responsiveness in adolescent parent/infant relationships: report of a pilot study. [2004]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of occupational performance coaching in improving children's and mothers' performance and mothers' self-competence. [2012]

14. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Caregiver Coaching in Early Intervention: A Scoping Review. [2022]

15. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parenting for mental health: what does the evidence say we need to do? Report of Workpackage 2 of the DataPrev project. [2011]