Parent SMART for Adolescents in Residential Substance Use Treatment

This study is testing a program called Parent SMART, which aims to help parents of adolescents (ages 12-18) who are in residential treatment for substance use. Many adolescents relapse after leaving residential treatment, and this study believes that involving parents can help. Parent SMART combines a computer program called Parenting Wisely with coaching sessions and an online forum for parents. The study will compare Parent SMART to standard residential treatment. Researchers will measure changes in how parents monitor their children, how they communicate, and how families interact, from the start of the study until 24 weeks after discharge. The study plans to enroll 220 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study comparing Parent SMART to usual residential treatment, with a planned enrollment of 220 participants.
What's involved
Adolescents must be willing and able to participate in a 2-hour interview before leaving residential treatment. Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 24 weeks after discharge from residential treatment.

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NCT05169385

Parent SMART (Substance Misuse in Adolescents in Residential Treatment)

Recruiting
NAAges 12–18InterventionalTreatment
Brown University
~220 participants
Updated 2025-04-03 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Parent SMARTTreatment as Usual

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 3 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Parental Monitoring
Measured over Baseline to 24 Weeks Post Discharge
+4 more outcomes measured
Substance Use
Adolescent Behavior
3 sites across 3 states
Illinois1
Iowa1
Minnesota1
  • Sara J Becker, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Brown University and Northwestern University

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

admitted to residential treatment due to concerns about frequency and/or severity of substance use
report alcohol and/or drug use in the past 90 days
be discharged to live with primary guardian
fluent in English or Spanish
willing and able to participate in a 2 hour interview prior to discharge from residential
parent or legal guardian of adolescent aged 12-18 years inclusive, at project start
adolescent admitted to residential treatment due to concerns about frequency and/or severity of substance use
will be primary guardian living with adolescent after discharge from residential
fluent in English or Spanish
willing and able to complete the baseline assessment prior to the adolescent's discharge
access to a smartphone that can receive text messages and reliably access the internet

Exclusion

does not report alcohol or drug use in the past 90 days
discharge plan does not include living with primary guardian
not fluent in English or Spanish
not willing or able to complete baseline interview
not legal guardian of adolescent or adolescent not aged between 12-18 years
adolescent not admitted to residential treatment due to substance use concerns
will not be living with adolescent after adolescent's discharge from residential
not fluent in English or Spanish
not willing or able to complete the baseline assessment prior to the adolescent's discharge
does not have access to a smartphone that can receive text messages and reliably access the internet
  • Change in Parental MonitoringBaseline to 24 Weeks Post Discharge

    The Parental Monitoring Questionnaire (PMQ), a parent-report and adolescent-report measure, will be used to assess dimensions of parental monitoring. It has three subscales: Child Disclosure, Parent Solicitation, and Parental Control.

  • Change in Parental CommunicationBaseline to 24 Weeks Post Discharge

    The Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (PCAS), a parent-report and adolescent-report measure, will be used to assess dimensions of parental monitoring. It has two subscales: General Communication and Problems with Communication.

  • Change in Family Assessment Task Interaction RatingsBaseline to 24 Weeks Post Discharge

    The Family Assessment Task, a video-taped family problem solving task will be used to provide an in vivo assessment of parenting behavior. Three tasks provide data on monitoring and communication: Limit Setting, Substance Use Norms, and Monitoring and Listening. Tapes will be coded by two raters blind to condition.

  • Change in Proportion of Days Used Over the Past 90 Days Outside of a Controlled EnvironmentBaseline to 24 Weeks Post Discharge

    The Global Appraisal of Individual Needs - Core is a well-validated clinical interview used to assess adolescent substance use in a range of settings. Substance consumption information is collected using a calendar format with temporal cues (e.g., holidays) to assist in recall of days when alcohol and other drugs were used. Possible number of days range from 0 to 90. Values are adjusted to reflect the percent of days used outside of controlled environment, with final values ranging from 0 to 100%.

  • Change in Substance Use ProblemsBaseline to 24 Weeks Post Discharge

    The Global Appraisal of Individual Needs - Core is a well-validated clinical interview used to assess adolescent substance use in a range of settings. The Substance-Related Problems Scale provides a count of substance-related problems experienced over the past 90 days. Possible values range from 0 to 11.