The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for Spanish Speaking Families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Using a multiple baseline single-case design, the study will measure the treatment effect of PCIT on five children’s problem behaviors and ASD symptoms, parenting practices, parent stress levels, and parents’ attitudes towards treatment. Outcome measures include the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI), Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), the Parenting Stress Index (PSI), Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS), and Therapy Attitude Inventory (TAI). Results will be obtained from visual analyses and findings of this study hope to add to the literature in improving Latino children’s behavior problems and ASD symptoms.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based practice that has shown effectiveness in treating child disruptive behaviors. However, there is limited evidence regarding the predictive role of child and caregiver characteristics on PCIT outcomes, particularly for Spanish-speaking families. The purpose of this study was to explore the predictive role of child and caregiver characteristics on child behavior intensity and behavior problems after PCIT treatment with Spanish- and English-speaking families and contribute to the existing research on PCIT when delivered in the family's preferred language. The outcome variables were the post-intervention caregiver-perceived “intensity” and “problem” scores for child disruptive behaviors as measured using the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). Predictor variables were child age, child gender, child maltreatment history, presence of a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, caregiver-preferred treatment language, and caregiver ethnicity. Pre-test outcome scores were also controlled for. Results from linear regression models suggested that child prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol was predictive of higher ECBI intensity and problem scores at post-test while being of Latinx ethnicity was predictive of lower intensity scores at post-test after controlling for all other predictors. Implications and future directions for treatment and research are discussed.