Friday, December 24, 2010

On the Effectiveness of PCIT for Families of Children on the Autism Spectrum: The role of shared positive affect

Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
+

Abstract

We report the results of a pilot trial of an evidence-based treatment-Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT; Eyberg et al. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 31(1), 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 functioning.
PMID: 18401693 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
More evidence of the effectiveness of PCIT. -gw

Sunday, December 19, 2010

On the Incredible Years Parenting Program: Implementation in ECE, primary care settings, and informal child care

Accomplishments & Outcomes. Our community has experienced great benefit from integrating social emotional work into the early learning and health domains, and was surprised to realize the importance of considering the multiple ways in which early childhood settings – and the variety of their approaches to promoting social emotional growth and development – can satisfy the goals laid out in the Early Childhood Colorado Framework. This resulted in better clarity of purpose at the community level, as well as opportunities to maximize local resources without compromising the unique nature of the many different types of early childhood service providers, including ECE, primary care settings, informal child care and others.
  • 100% implementation of the Incredible Years in all Colorado Preschool Program and Head Start classrooms in the county – 2,600 children.
  • Implementation of the Incredible Years in 25 Kindergarten classrooms in three districts.
  • Six cohorts of the 14-week Incredible Years Parenting Series annually.
  • A combination of CSEFEL training and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in all child care centers and family child care homes who, for infrastructure reasons, cannot implement the Incredible Years.
 Building a Continuum of Early Childhood Social Emotional Programs, Services & Supports in Adams County
+
There is an Adams County, Washington, but that's not the Adams County of this excerpt. How other regions in other parts of the country address early childhood mental health needs can be instructive for us here in the Peninsulas. The excerpt reposted above comes from Colorado.
+
What stands out for me here is the place that The Incredible Years has in their early childhood-serving system. The Incredible Years Parenting Series was developed at the University of Washington and is an evidence-based practice. -gw
+

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

On We're Meeting in December: Can't wait until 2011

 
It may be the Holiday Season, but the Peninsulas Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Group is meeting this Friday, the third Friday of the month, as usual. There are just too many interesting cases to talk about and we don't want to wait until the new year. Come join us. -gw
 
 
 
 

Friday, December 10, 2010

On Parent Child Interaction Therapy as Effective for Post Traumatic Stress: Reduces child anxiety

..when the parent-child relationship is enhanced and is less coercive/violent/rejecting, children's anxiety goes down (and remember, PTS [Post Traumatic Stress] is a type of anxiety) as well as their behavior improves. This suggests that when externalizing behavior problems, violence and/or serious parent/child relationship problems are present even though the child has clinical PTS, try triaging to start with PCIT [Parent Child Interaction Therapy] or AF-CBT [Alternatives for Families Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy] since this interventions will address more than just the PTS sx. If the child still has PTS after PCIT or AF-CBT, then TF [Trauma-Focused Cogntive Behavior Therapy] may be warranted.
+
A prescription for treatment from Lucy Berliner at Harborview, based on research from the University of California at Davis. -gw

From "Child Trauma and the Effectiveness of PCIT" --
Anthony Urquiza, Ph.D.

On Heal Thyself, Washington: Evidence-based help at heal-wa.org

 
Linda West brought this helpful website to our attention at our last consultation meeting. Note heal-wa-org is password-protected but accessible to the following professionals. -gw

Information about setting up your UW NetID and password

Some resources on HEAL-WA (indicated by a lock) are governed by license agreements that limit by whom these resources can be used.

Access to these resources is provided via a UW NetID and password, and is limited to members of the following groups of health care professionals who are licensed to practice in Washington State: Chiropractors, East Asian Medicine Practitioners, Massage Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, Naturopathic Physicians, Optometrists, Osteopathic Physicians and Osteopathic Physician Assistants, Physicians and Physician Assistants, Podiatrists, Psychologists, Registered Nurses, and Social Workers. ARNPs - your eligibility is through your RN license.

Monday, December 6, 2010

On U of W Website Calls Attention to the Power of Videotaping Homevisits: A vehicle for self-reflection

 
One technique the infant mental health specialists learn is to videotape mothers and babies during home visits and review the playback side-by-side with the parent. They comment on positive moments and wonder with the parent about other moments that may not be going so well. What was going on when the infant grimaced and gurgled?  When he was reaching for mom? Did she know he wanted her – only her, no one else in the room? “We ask questions about what’s going on, so parents can come to their own conclusions,” says Spieker. “It’s not, ‘Here’s what you did wrong’ or ‘Here’s what you should do.’ It’s a vehicle for self-reflection.”
 
The goal is to reframe parents’ ideas about child-rearing. “We help parents reflect on a baby’s needs, cues, and symbols, to help them see that: ‘This baby is in distress.  He’s a little helpless baby and he really needs me. And this is how he lets me know,’ ” says Spieker.
 
Decades of research into infant attachment consistently show that babies thrive mentally, socially and emotionally in direct relation to a parent’s responsiveness and sensitivity.  Low levels of parental sensitivity -- in particular lack of comfort for infants in distress -- are linked to insecurity and aggression in school-age children. Long-range studies suggest those aggressive tendencies can impact social functioning, academic achievement, and relationships with teachers and friends
 
 
Some great early childhood resources can be found on this University of Washington site. -gw