title: Parent training with behavioral couples therapy for fathers' alcohol abuse: effects on substance use, parental relationship, parenting, and CPS involvement.
abstract: This pilot study examined effects of Parent Skills with Behavioral Couples Therapy (PSBCT) on substance use, parenting, and relationship conflict among fathers with alcohol use disorders. Male participants (N = 30) entering outpatient alcohol treatment, their female partners, and a custodial child (8 to 12 years) were randomly assigned to (a) PSBCT; (b) Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT); or (c) Individual-Based Treatment (IBT). Children were not actively involved in treatment. Parents completed measures of substance use, couples' dyadic adjustment, partner violence, parenting, and Child Protection Services (CPS) involvement at pretreatment, posttreatment, 6- and 12-month follow-up. PSBCT was comparable to BCT on substance use, dyadic adjustment, and partner violence; both groups showed clinically meaningful effects over IBT. Compared to BCT, PSBCT resulted in larger effect sizes on parenting and CPS involvement throughout follow-up. PSBCT for fathers may enhance parenting couple- or individual-based treatment, and warrant examination in a larger, randomized efficacy trial.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA. kk_lam@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Wendy K K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fals-Stewart
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000523:psychology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D054541:Family Conflict; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology