Conrad Charlotte Engberg, Jørgensen Rikke, Amstrup Cecilie, Gottschau Tine Ellitsgaard, Thomsen Per Hove, Lauritsen Marlene Briciet
Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark.
Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9260 Gistrup, Denmark.
Children (Basel). 2024 Jul 10;11(7):838. doi: 10.3390/children11070838.
This qualitative study aims to examine parental experiences of feasibility and relational changes from participating in the Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) intervention.
Thirteen parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (mean age 3.89 years) participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was performed, inspired by an abductive approach informed by the theories of the attachment system, the caregiving system and mentalisation.
Three overarching themes were identified: the struggle of fitting PACT into everyday life, the fruit of relational connection and the cascading relational effects of PACT. Parents were challenged regarding finding time for the intervention but adapted PACT to their individual needs and possibilities. All parents experienced relational improvement, and a cycle of positive relational change through PACT was identified.
This study has several clinical implications. Therapists and clinics offering PACT interventions should encourage and support parents in their individual journey of implementing PACT into their everyday lives. Some of the parents described improvements in parental mentalisation, child attachment and mutual enjoyment in the parent-child relationship. Children with autism could benefit from parents increasing their sensitivity when caregiving, and clinicians may through interventions such as PACT facilitate this development.
本定性研究旨在探讨参与儿科自闭症沟通治疗（PACT）干预的家长在可行性和关系变化方面的经历。
13名被诊断为自闭症谱系障碍儿童的家长（平均年龄3.89岁）参与了半结构化访谈。采用主题分析法，其灵感来源于一种归纳法，该归纳法受依恋系统、照料系统和心理化理论的影响。
确定了三个总体主题：将PACT融入日常生活的困难、关系联结的成果以及PACT的连锁关系效应。家长们在为干预安排时间方面面临挑战，但会根据个人需求和可能性调整PACT。所有家长都经历了关系的改善，并确定了通过PACT实现积极关系变化的循环。
本研究具有若干临床意义。提供PACT干预的治疗师和诊所应鼓励并支持家长在将PACT融入日常生活的个人过程中。一些家长描述了在家长心理化、儿童依恋以及亲子关系中的相互愉悦方面的改善。患有自闭症的儿童可能会受益于家长在照料时提高敏感性，临床医生可以通过PACT等干预措施促进这一发展。
