THRIVE-ASD: Telehealth Rapid Intervention for Externalizing Behaviors in ASD

Change in Child Behavior Problems as assessed by Sutter-Eyberg Student Behavior Inventory-Revised (SESBI-R)

Time Frame: Pre-treatment to follow-up (~24 weeks)

The SESBI is a 38-item measure of disruptive behavior utilized across the PCIT literature. Teachers will rate the current frequency of child behavior problems on a 7-point Likert scale and determine whether or not they find the behaviors to be problematic. The SESBI yields a total raw score for intensity of behaviors and a normed T-score with higher scores indicating higher behavior problem severity.

Change in Parenting Stress as assessed by Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF)

Time Frame: Pre-treatment to follow-up (~24 weeks)

Parents will complete the PSI-SF, a 36-item measure yielding scores for a Total Stress scale. The PSI-SF is a widely used measure in ASD samples and has been used as an outcome measure in PCIT ASD studies. The PSI-SF yields a total raw score for stress level and a percentile score which describes parent stress relative to all parents assessed during the development and testing of the PSI. Scores above 80 are considered high stress scores.

Change in Parenting Practices as assessed by Parenting Scale (PS)

Time Frame: Pre-treatment to follow-up (~24 weeks)

Parents will complete the PS, which has been consistently used across the PCIT literature as a measure of parenting practices. The PS is a 30-item measure, which yields a Total score representing an average of responses on all items, and individual scale scores for Laxness, Over-reactivity, and Negativity. A higher score on the scale scores and on the Total score indicates a greater level of reported problematic parenting discipline style.

Change in Child Behavior Problems as assessed by Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI)

Time Frame: Pre-treatment to follow-up (~24 weeks)

The ECBI is a 36-item measure of disruptive behavior problems utilized across the PCIT literature. Parents will rate the frequency of child behaviors on a 7-point Likert scale. The ECBI yields a total raw score for intensity of behaviors and a normed T-score with higher scores indicating higher behavior problem severity. The cut-off for clinical significance is a raw score of 130.

Change in Child Compliance and Parent Interaction as assessed by Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System, 4th edition (DPICS-IV)

Time Frame: Pre-treatment to follow-up (~24 weeks)

The DPICS-IV observational paradigm and coding system is the gold standard for assessing parent and child observational outcomes across the PCIT literature. During each 5-minute parent-child situation (child-led, parent-led, clean-up), parents are provided standardized instructions via a bug-in-the-ear across a one-way mirror or video. All families are provided with the same set of standard toys during the observation. Each observation will be video recorded and subsequently coded for child compliance to commands and parenting "do" and "don't" skills by student research assistants who will be trained to research reliability and blinded to the child intervention status and timepoint.

Change in Child Behavior Problems as assessed by Behavior Assessment System for Children-3rd Edition (BASC-3)

Time Frame: Pre-treatment to follow-up (~24 weeks)

Parents and teachers will complete the BASC-3, a broadband assessment that includes disruptive behavior domains including hyperactivity, aggression, and attention problems, in addition to a general externalizing behavior problems composite. The BASC-3 has excellent reliability and validity and has been utilized extensively across the ASD literature and in examinations of PCIT with ASD samples. The Preschool versions will be used for children 2 to 5 years old, and the Child version will be used for children 6:0+.

Change in Child Behavior Problems as assessed by Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (DBD)

Time Frame: Pre-treatment to follow-up (~24 weeks)

The DBD is a 45-item measure of disruptive behavior and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) that has been utilized in samples of preschoolers with ADHD and ODD, and in studies examining ADHD symptoms in samples of children with ASD. Parents and teachers will complete the DBD, rating each item on a four-point scale ranging from not at all (0) to very much (3).