Date: March, 2015
Source: University of Florida

Child-directed interaction training is an evidence-based treatment for children with behavioural and emotional disorders that places emphasis on improving the quality of the parent-child relationship and changing parent-child interaction patterns.

This study examined the efficacy of Child-Directed Interaction Training (CDIT) for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Thirty mother-child interactions with children ages 3-7 years with a diagnosis of ASD participated in this study. After completing 8 sessions of CDIT training, statistically significant improvements in disruptive behaviours and social awareness as well as maternal distress associated with child disruptive behaviour occurred. During sessions, mothers learned to provide positive attention to their children's appropriate social and play behaviours. Both child and parent changes were maintained at 6-week follow-up.

This relatively brief, time-limited, and accessible intervention may be efficacious for improving child and parent behaviours in families of young children with ASD. By decreasing disruptive behaviours, CDIT may also help to prepare children to benefit further from and engage in future interventions.

Reference
Ginn, N. C., Clionsky, L. N., Eyberg, S. M., Warner-Metzger, C., & Abner, J. P. (2015). Child-directed interaction training for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Parent and child outcomes. Journal of clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 18, 1-9.