Tele-PCIT for Disruptive Behavior in Children

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 12 weeks

50 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and user-friendliness of a telehealth version of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for young children at risk of trauma exposure. The study compares families receiving Tele-PCIT with those on a waiting list to determine the telehealth approach's efficacy. It suits parents who are the legal guardians of children aged 2 to 6 with noticeable disruptive behavior and who are either on Medicaid or uninsured. As an unphased trial, this study provides families with access to innovative therapy methods that could enhance their child's well-being.

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 prior data suggests that Tele-PCIT is safe for children?

Research shows that Telehealth Parent Child Interaction Therapy (Tele-PCIT) is well-received by families. Studies have found that PCIT, whether conducted in a clinic or through telehealth, effectively manages disruptive behaviors in young children. No evidence suggests serious side effects or safety issues with this approach. Specifically, about 35.8% of caregivers reported significant improvements in their children's behavior after using PCIT online. This indicates that Tele-PCIT is both safe and beneficial for children with disruptive behaviors. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Tele-PCIT for disruptive behavior in children because it offers a unique way to deliver Parent-Child Interaction Therapy through telehealth. Unlike traditional in-person therapy sessions, Tele-PCIT allows families to participate from the comfort of their homes, making it more accessible and convenient, especially for those in remote areas. This approach could potentially reduce barriers to treatment, such as travel time and scheduling conflicts, while maintaining the effectiveness of the therapy.

What evidence suggests that Tele-PCIT is effective for disruptive behavior in children?

Research has shown that Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) helps reduce disruptive behavior in children. In this trial, some participants will receive Telehealth Parent Child Interaction Therapy (Tele-PCIT), which studies have found can greatly improve children's behavior. This makes it a good option for families unable to attend in-person sessions. For instance, one study found that caregivers noticed better behavior in their children and felt less stressed after the therapy. Another study showed that these benefits were seen in families from different backgrounds. These findings suggest that Tele-PCIT could effectively manage disruptive behaviors in young children. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Rosmary Ros-Demarize, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Medical University of South Carolina

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young children at risk of experiencing trauma and their families. It's designed to help with problem behaviors and disruptive behavior in a pediatric setting. Families must have access to telehealth facilities.

Inclusion Criteria

Parent participants must be living with the child

My child is between 2 and 6 years old.

Child participants must have elevated levels of disruptive behavior problems as defined by the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI)

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Tele-PCIT therapy delivered via telehealth

12 weeks

Weekly virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

3 months

1 visit (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Telehealth Parent Child Interaction Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) delivered through telehealth, comparing immediate therapy against delayed start (waitlist control). It measures how well the therapy works, if it's accepted by participants, and how engaged they are.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Waitlist Control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Delayed Start of Tele-PCIT

Group II: Tele-PCIT Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Medical University of South Carolina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

994

Recruited

7,408,000+

The Duke Endowment

Collaborator

Trials

17

Recruited

48,100+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11818805/

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy for Disruptive Behavior Research studies demonstrate that PCIT is effective across a variety of DBP conditions, showing significant reductions in child behavioral problems and ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789423000527

Comparing Telehealth and in-Person Time-Limited Parent ... This research demonstrated that time-limited IPCIT can effectively improve child disruptive behavior among a socioeconomically, linguistically, and culturally ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07225010

NCT07225010 | Tele-PCIT for Healthy Relationships This randomized controlled trial evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, engagement, and initial efficacy of time-limited Parent Child ...

4. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2800318

Telehealth Treatment of Behavior Problems in Young ... This randomized clinical trial investigates the effects of an internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy for children aged 3 years ...

5. jmir.org jmir.org/2025/1/e69887

Pocket Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Online for ... Caregivers reported increased positive child behaviors (Cohen's d=0.87) and decreased parenting distress (Cohen's d=−0.3) following completion ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4480784/

Rationale and Considerations for the Internet-Based Delivery ... This paper presents the rationale and key considerations for a promising innovation in the treatment of early-onset disruptive behavior disorders.

7. nsuworks.nova.edu nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1149&context=cps_stuetd

A Comparison of Clinic-Based and Telehealth Parent-Child ... Regarding child outcomes, we expect that children in both IPCIT and clinic-based PCIT will exhibit reductions in the frequency and quantity of child disruptive ...

8. commons.lib.jmu.edu commons.lib.jmu.edu/context/diss202029/article/1062/viewcontent/Delivery_of_Parent_Child_Interaction_Therapy_in_a_Telehealth_Form.pdf

Delivery of parent-child interaction therapy in a telehealth format Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an empirically supported treatment for young children with oppositional and disruptive behaviors.

9. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23794925.2023.2238741

Full article: Adapting to Unprecedented Times PCIT has strong evidence demonstrating its ability to support families with young children presenting with disruptive behaviors such as tantrums ...