Manuscript Details

Valadez, E. A., Tottenham, N., Tabachnick, A. R., & Dozier, M. (2020). Early parenting intervention effects on brain responses to maternal cues among high-risk children. American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(9), 818-826. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20010011 [Study 2: Non-experimental design].

Peer Reviewed

Model(s): Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up–Infant (ABC-Infant)
Study Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov
Low rating
This manuscript received a low rating because the measures of effectiveness cannot be attributed solely to the intervention due to a confounding factor.

Study reviewed under: Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 2.3
Study design characteristics contributing to rating
Design Random assignment compromised? Attrition Baseline equivalence Confounding factors? Valid, reliable measures?
Non-experimental comparison group design Not applicable Not applicable

Not assessed

Yes

Yes
Notes from the review of this manuscript

This manuscript describes two studies: a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and a non-experimental comparison group design (NED). This review addresses the findings of the NED. The review of the RCT is addressed under Valadez et al. (2020; Study 1). 

This manuscript received a low rating because of a confounding factor in the design. All members of the intervention group were referred for risk of child maltreatment and had involvement with Child Protective Services (CPS), whereas the comparison group did not have any history of CPS involvement. Therefore, HomVEE is not able to separate the impact of the intervention from the effects of the referral to and involvement with CPS for risk of child maltreatment. Because the study received a low rating for this reason, HomVEE did not assess additional factors that could have influenced the rating, such as whether the study met the baseline equivalence requirement.