Shaping Neural Activity Through Parenting

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to test causal links between dimensions of positive and harsh parenting and children's brain responses to rewards and errors, using a parenting intervention.

Detailed Description
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Depression and anxiety are among the most frequently diagnosed psychological disorders, with persistent patterns of impairment evident from childhood through adulthood. Impaired functioning of core brain systems that respond to reward and errors may increase risk for depression and anxiety. Importantly, these neural risk markers for depression and anxiety appear to be shaped, at least in part, by environmental input. Problematic parenting is a key environmental factor involved in the intergenerational transmission of depression and anxiety. Low positive parenting is associated with blunted brain responses to reward and harsh parenting is associated with heightened brain responses to errors. This study uses an evidence-based parenting program to test causal links between dimensions of positive and harsh parenting and children's brain responses to rewards and errors. Participants will include 80 6- to 7-year-old children and their mothers who will be randomly assigned to participate in a parenting program (Parent Child Interaction Therapy: PCIT) or to a waitlist control group, and brain responses to rewards and errors will be assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Official Title
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Targeting Biomarkers of Risk for Depression and Anxiety Through a Parenting Intervention

Conditions
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Depression, Anxiety

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Child is 6-7 years old Maternal history of anxiety or depression Maternal self-report of low positive/high harsh parenting Exclusion Criteria: Child has developmental disorder

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Years
Maximum Age: 7 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Parenting Intervention<br>Parenting Intervention: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) | Behavioral: Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)<br>* PCIT includes 12-16 sessions across two phases: the first focused on enhancing positive parenting during child-directed interactions, and the second focused on reducing harsh parenting during parent-directed interactions. Parents receive feedback and coaching on their interactions with the child during sessions.<br>|
| No Intervention: Waitlist Control<br>Waitlist Control Condition | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Event-Related Potentials (ERP) | ERP responses to reward (i.e., feedback negativity) and errors (i.e., error-related negativity) | On average, 1 month after intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parenting quality | Observational assessments of positive and harsh parenting | On average, 1 month after intervention | 
| Child anxiety symptoms | Parent Questionnaire | On average, 1 month after intervention | 
| Child depressive symptoms | Parent Questionnaire | On average, 1 month after intervention | 
| Child anxiety | Structured diagnostic interview | On average, 1 month after intervention | 
| Child depression | Structured diagnostic interview | On average, 1 month after intervention |