Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the INSIGHT Program

University of Minho

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Deviant Sexual Behavior

Treatments: Other: Treatment As Usual (TAU); Behavioral: INSIGHT Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06255158

2020.06634.BD (Other Grant/Funding Number)

UID/01662/2020

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the efficacy of a new intervention program for perpetrators of child sexual abuse: the INSIGHT Program. The primary outcome measures to assessing INSIGHT effectiveness will include psychological symptoms, EMSs, cognitive distortions, interpersonal problems, self-esteem, victim empathy, and empathy, and sexual violence risk. Then, qualitative interviews will enable an in-depth examination of the therapeutic process and its effects.

Full description

Perpetrators of CSA will be recruited from Portuguese Prisons. Potential participants who are likely to meet inclusion criteria will be identified and referred to study staff by prison members.

Participants who agreed to participate gave written informed consent, completed the baseline assessment, and were randomly assigned to treatment conditions (treatment and control groups) using a random number table by a research assistant who was blind to any information about each participant.

Besides baseline assessment, participants completed the post-treatment assessment (at the end of INSIGHT Program) and follow-up assessment (3 months after INSIGHT completion).

The program's structured and manualized design ensures integrity, at least partially.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: Male

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• male;
• men with convictions of a sexual crime against a child

Exclusion criteria

• men with cognitive disabilities;
• men with psychotic symptoms;
• men with higher traits of psychopathy;
• men with addiction to alcohol/drugs;
• men with convictions for child pornography and/or rape (i.e., adult victims)
• men in prison less than 12 months since the beginning of the program
• Female;
• men having low risk of sexual recidivism

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

INSIGHT Program

Experimental group

Description:

The design of the INSIGHT Program aligns with RNR model, the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, and schema therapy. The intervention comprises different phases, beginning with an initial individual motivation interview intervention, and followed by a CBT-structured, ST-inspired individual program. The core of the intervention program consists of a manualized individual program comprising 25 weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 60 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: INSIGHT Program

Treatment As Usual Group

Other group

Description:

TAU in Portuguese prisons is primarily aimed to increase educational and professional qualifications

Treatment:

Other: Treatment As Usual (TAU)