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Substance Misuse and Family Violence Treatment for Fathers

This study is looking at two different behavioral therapies for fathers who are dealing with substance misuse and family violence. These therapies are called Fathers for Change (F4C) and Individual Drug Counseling (IDC). Researchers want to see if F4C is better than IDC at reducing substance misuse and family violence. They also want to understand if F4C helps by improving how fathers manage their emotions. You might be able to join if you are a man aged 18 or older, meet criteria for a substance use disorder, have reported family violence in the last 18 months, and have a biological child aged 1-12 you see regularly. The study will measure substance misuse and family violence at different times over 45 weeks to see how well the treatments work. The current status of this study is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study that will randomly assign 280 fathers to receive either Fathers for Change (F4C) or Individual Drug Counseling (IDC).
What's involved
You would participate in weekly treatment sessions for 18 weeks. Your substance misuse and family violence will be measured weekly during treatment, and then at week 19, week 32, and week 45.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed after treatment for 27 weeks, with assessments at week 19, week 32, and week 45.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06650267

Substance Misuse and Family Violence Treatment Fathers

Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18+InterventionalTreatment
Yale University
~280 participants
Updated 2026-05-22 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Fathers for Change (F4C)Individual Drug Counseling (IDC)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Substance Misuse
Measured over Baseline (week 0), weekly during treatment for through 18 week, Post-Treatment at week 19, week 32 and week 45
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Substance Misuse
Violence, Domestic
Child Abuse

Explore related trials

Child abuseIntimate Partner ViolenceSubstance use disorder

Where it's being run

2 sites across 1 states
Connecticut2

Study leadership

  • Carla S Stover, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Yale University

Who to contact

Carla S Stover, Ph.D.
[email protected]
2037853486
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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

meet DSM-5 criteria for an SU disorder at the time of assessment at APT or VACHS;
report FV within the last 18 months prior to screening (based on self, court, police or child protection reports);
have at least one biological child aged 1 to 12 years with whom they live or have at least twice per month in person visits;
are able to complete assessments in English; and
agree to have their female coparents (mother of the youngest child) contacted for participation of their youngest child. If a participant has more than one child in the age range, the youngest will be the target of assessment and treatment.

Exclusion

an active full/no contact protective order pertaining to their child;
physiological addiction to a substance that requires detoxification (such individuals may be re-evaluated following detox);
cognitive impairment (a mini mental state score \<25);
current untreated psychotic/bipolar disorder;
currently suicidal or homicidal based on Brief Symptom Inventory Screening and follow-up on positive responses; or
are currently receiving weekly individual therapy for Substance misuse or family violence

What this trial measures

  • Substance MisuseBaseline (week 0), weekly during treatment for through 18 week, Post-Treatment at week 19, week 32 and week 45

    Self-reported days of substance misuse reported a positive breathalyzer/urine tox screen will be used to create a sum of the number of weeks with use during treatment and at each follow-up period.

  • Family Violence (FV)Baseline (week 0), weekly during treatment for through 18 week, Post-Treatment at week 19, week 32 and week 45

    Any instance of FV either toward a partner or child identified by any report (self-report on the Timeline Followback weekly surveys, child protection or arrest record) will be counted to allow for the best estimate of FV across reports resulting in a sum count of the number of FV incidents during the 18 weeks of treatment and from post-treatment to each follow-up timepoint