Leveraging parent-child interaction therapy and telehealth capacities to address the unique needs of young children during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

COVID-19 and related efforts to mitigate its spread have dramatically transformed the structure and predictability of modern childhood, resulting in growing concerns children may be particularly vulnerable to serious mental health consequences. Worldwide stay-at-home directives and emergency changes in healthcare policy and reimbursement have smoothed the trail for broad implementation of technology-based remote mental health services for children. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is particularly well-positioned to address some of the most pressing child and parental needs that arise during stressful times, and telehealth formats of PCIT, such as Internet-delivered PCIT (iPCIT), have already been supported in controlled trials. This commentary explores PCIT implementation during the COVID-19 public health crisis and the challenges encountered in the move toward Internet-delivered services. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Commercial mindfulness aid does not aid short-term stress reduction compared to unassisted relaxation.

Increased public interest in mindfulness has generated a burgeoning market in new consumer technologies. Two exploratory studies examined effects of InteraXon's "Muse" electroencephalography (EEG)-based neurofeedback device and mobile application on mindfulness-based relaxation activities. Psychophysiological outcomes (heart rate variability (HRV), electro-dermal activity (EDA), saliva amylase activity (sAA) and Muse application EEG "calm percent") were collected for two 7-minute conditions: Muse-assisted relaxation exercise (MARE), and unassisted relaxation exercise (URE). In the first study, participants (n = 99) performed both conditions in a randomized sequential design. A follow-up study used a randomized parallel condition (n = 44) to test for differences in HRV effects between the two conditions and extended follow-up observation. Generalized estimating equation models demonstrated a moderate increase in HRV following relaxation exercises, with no observable difference between MARE and URE conditions. Both MARE and URE conditions produced equally effective short-term increases in heart rate variability, without additional benefit from neurofeedback.

Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with disruptive behavior.

This article reviews the literature from 1996 to 2007 to update the 1998 Brestan and Eyberg report on evidence-based psychosocial treatments (EBTs) for child and adolescent disruptive behavior, including oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. Studies were evaluated using criteria for EBTs developed by the task force on promotion and dissemination of psychological procedures (Chambless et al., 1998; Chambless et al., 1996). Sixteen EBTs were identified in this review, up from 12 in the earlier report, and 9 "possibly efficacious" treatments (Chambless & Hollon, 1998) were identified as well. This article describes the EBTs and their evidence base and covers research on moderators and mediators of treatment outcome, as well as the clinical representativeness and generalizability of the studies. Best practice recommendations from the current evidence base also are offered, as well as calls for future research that increases understanding of the moderators and mechanisms of change for children and adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders.