Objective:
To present a case report detailing the trajectory of a caregiver-targeted intervention – Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) – delivered via telehealth to a five-year-old pediatric brain cancer survivor with externalizing behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method:
The patient’s medical and developmental history are presented. The patient’s case conceptualization and intervention rationale are discussed. The course of the patient’s PCIT treatment is described.
Results:
After 10 PCIT sessions following an intake session, the frequency of the patient’s externalizing behaviors was reduced, and the patient’s mother reported feeling more competent and less distressed. At a six-month follow-up, the patient’s mother reported maintenance of treatment gains.
Conclusions:
Telehealth-delivered PCIT shows promise as a parent-directed intervention that can reduce parental distress and the frequency of externalizing behaviors in young children. The intervention was seen by a medically complex patient’s family as feasible and acceptable for meeting their behavioral health needs during a public health emergency. Further research into PCIT’s implementation possibilities may help to bridge present treatment gaps for young children with externalizing behaviors across a variety of settings.
Implications for Impact Statement
This case study describes the processes and outcomes of a caregiver-directed therapy – Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) – delivered remotely to a mother and her child, a five-year-old pediatric brain cancer survivor. The positive outcomes in this case support that telehealth-delivered PCIT is effective for medically complex patients. This case highlights how parent-targeted telehealth interventions can address barriers to health care-accessibility.
