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Attachment and Child Health (ATTACH) Added to Treatment As Usual Versus Treatment As Usual Alone for Parents With Psychosocial Problems: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
Led by Johanne Smith-Nielsen · Updated on 2025-09-23
52
Participants Needed
3
Research Sites
30 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
J
Johanne Smith-Nielsen
Lead Sponsor
U
University of Calgary
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This trial investigates the feasibility of a parenting program called ATTACH(TM) designed to improve mentalizing skills—the ability to reflect on thoughts and feelings—in parents of children aged 0 to 5 years. It aims to find out if parents are willing to participate in the program, complete most sessions, and whether the program increases parental mentalizing skills compared to usual treatment. The study is conducted in three municipal family treatment centers and focuses on families receiving support for psychosocial problems. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive the 10-session ATTACH(TM) program in addition to the usual family support services, while the other group will receive only the usual care provided by local social and healthcare systems. ATTACH involves weekly 45-60 minute sessions that include video reviews of parent-child interactions, reflection exercises on hypothetical and real-life situations, and use of supportive materials. Usual care may include various parenting support and therapeutic services tailored to family needs. During the study, parents will complete surveys, interviews, and video observations at the start and five months after starting treatment to assess mentalizing skills and other family and child outcomes. The research team will also follow up one year later to check on ongoing treatment or support needs. The study measures include parental reflective functioning, parent-child interaction quality, child development, parental depression, and family functioning among others.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
ATTACH in Denmark: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Child aged 0 to 5.7 years at enrollment
- Speak Danish or English well enough to participate without an interpreter
- Both parents provide consent if child custody is shared
- Parents referred to family treatment center due to psychosocial problems under specific child support law sections
- Parents with children in out-of-home placement or foster care (with or without consent)
- Parents experiencing psychosocial problems such as mental health issues, cognitive difficulties, substance abuse, poverty, social isolation, adverse childhood experiences, functional or somatic disorders, criminal involvement, domestic violence, or children with emotional, developmental, or behavioral difficulties
You will not qualify if you...
- Child older than 5.7 years at enrollment
- Parent does not speak Danish or English well enough to participate without an interpreter
- Consent not obtained from both parents if custody is shared
- Parent plans to move to a different municipality within 5 months after randomization
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Approximately 10 weeks
Participants receive either the ATTACH parenting program added to their usual treatment or continue with Treatment As Usual alone. The ATTACH program consists of 10 weekly sessions focusing on improving parental reflective functioning.
Weekly visits for up to 10 weeks
Duration - Assessment at 5 months post randomization
Participants are assessed 5 months after randomization to measure feasibility and various parental and child outcomes.
1 follow-up visit (in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 3 locations
1
Center for Sociale Indsatser
Gribskov, Denmark, 3200
Actively Recruiting
2
Poppelgården Familiecenter
Hvidovre, Denmark, 2650
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3
Familie- og Dagtilbudscenter
Høje Taastrup, Denmark, 2630
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Research Team
K
Katrine Isabella Wendelboe, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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