Parent–Child Interaction Therapy for the Treatment of Asperger’s Disorder in Early Childhood

Abstract

Almost half of all children diagnosed with Asperger’s disorder (ASP) present with comorbid behavioral difficulties associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorders. Children with ASP often are noncompliant, aggressive, and difficult for parents to manage, which may prevent these children from participating in school and community activities, thus contributing to reduced opportunities for development of important skills. Finding effective interventions to treat these behavioral issues remains a clinical priority to improve overall outcomes for these children. This case study presents the treatment of a 5-year-old boy with ASP and severe behavior problems using Parent–Child Interaction Therapy, an empirically supported behavioral parenting intervention developed for young children with disruptive behavior disorders. Findings from this case report documented (a) an improvement in behavioral functioning that was maintained at follow-up and (b) provided support for utilizing this evidenced-based treatment to improve functioning of young children with ASP and comorbid disruptive behavior disorders.