Authors: Marjorie Solomon Michele Ono Susan Timmer Beth GoodlinJones
Publish Date: 2008/04/10
Volume: 38, Issue: 9, Pages: 1767-1776
Abstract
We report the results of a pilot trial of an evidencebased treatment—Parent–Child Interaction Therapy PCIT Eyberg et al Psychopharmacology Bulletin 311 83–91 1995 for boys aged 5–12 with high functioning autism spectrum disorders and clinically significant behavioral problems The study also included an investigation of the role of shared positive affect during the course of therapy on child and parent outcomes The intervention group showed reductions in parent perceptions of child problem behaviors and child atypicality as well as an increase in child adaptability Shared positive affect in parent child dyads and parent positive affect increased between the initial and final phases of the therapy Parent positive affect after the first phase was related to perceptions of improvement in problem behaviors and adaptive functioningThis study was supported by a Children’s Miracle Network Grant from the UC Davis Medical Center to Drs Solomon and GoodlinJones The authors would like to acknowledge Drs Dawn Blacker Jean McGrath Anthony Urquiza Nancy Zebell and Alicia Porter for their training in PCIT and Drs Robert Hendren and Sally Rogers for their helpful suggestions on drafts of this manuscript We also would like to thank the families participating in the studyPositive affect occurs when there is laughing joking playfully singing happily jumping with joy smiling saying “I love you” or an affectionate touch ie placing hand on back arm or head kissing or hugging from the Parent/Child to the Child/Parent There is a general sense of happiness Consider facial expressions tone of voice and body language when deciding if there is positive affect The affect does not need to be expressed directly to each other except for saying “I love you” or the affectionate touchNegative affect occurs when there is a display of distress anger fear sadness frustration or irritation Consider facial expressions tone of voice and body language when deciding if there is negative affect The affect does not need to be expressed directly to each otherAloofness occurs when the Parent/Child is tuned out of the situation or focused only on what he/she is doing There is no interaction with the other person The Parent/Child appears to be bored actively in his/her own world or not wanting to interact with partner There is a general impression that Parent/Child would rather be somewhere else or playing alone with the activity
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