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The Efficacy of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for Youth with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Meta-Analysis

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Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly prevalent in early childhood and has long-term negative effects when left untreated. Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an early intervention for children aged 2- to-7-years that has extensive evidence for treating child externalizing problems by teaching parents effective strategies to manage child behavior. However, the effect of PCIT for families with children diagnosed with ADHD is not completely understood. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize research on the use of PCIT for children with ADHD. Nine out of 711 identified studies were analyzed. Summary effect sizes were calculated using the standardized mean gain for child ADHD symptoms, child behaviors, parent stress, and parenting behaviors, and the Fail-Safe N was calculated to determine the robustness of the results. Overall, PCIT had a significant beneficial effect on child ADHD symptoms (g = 0.90), child behavior (g = 0.44), parent stress (g = 0.82), and parenting behaviors (g = 2.15). Results of this meta-analysis suggest that PCIT is an effective treatment for reducing core symptoms of ADHD.

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Fig. 1

Data Availability

No original data was gathered in this meta-analysis. Please contact original study authors.

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Funding

The first author received a $400 research award from West Virginia University for use in purchasing a subscription to the DistillerSR software.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, 53 Campus Drive, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Sharon T. Phillips, Lindsay R. Druskin, Erinn Victory, Emily Aman & Cheryl B. McNeil

  2. Department of Psychology, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD, 21252, USA

    Matthew P. Mychailyszyn

  3. Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital, 1708 W Rogers Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21209, USA

    Matthew P. Mychailyszyn

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, 100 Newell Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Cheryl B. McNeil

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  1. Sharon T. Phillips
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Contributions

S.P. conducted analyses, prepared all figures and tables, gathered data, organized the study team, and wrote the method, results, and discussion section. E.V., E.A., and L.D. wrote the introduction section and helped with data gathering and clean-up. M.M. provided guidance on data analyses. C.M. supervised the first author and developed the study idea. All authors reviewed and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sharon T. Phillips.

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Phillips, S.T., Druskin, L.R., Mychailyszyn, M.P. et al. The Efficacy of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for Youth with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Meta-Analysis. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-024-01678-2

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