Treatment of Concurrent Substance Dependence, Child Neglect and Domestic Violence: A Single Case Examination Involving Family Behavior Therapy

• NCJ Number: 230077
• Author(s): Valerie Romero; Brad Donohue; Daniel N. Allen
• Date Published: April 2010
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1R01DA020548-01A1
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the effectiveness of a home-based family behavior therapy in the context of a woman showing signs of child neglect, substance dependence, domestic violence, and other co-occurring problems.

Abstract

Although child neglect and substance abuse co-occur in greater than 60 percent of child protective service cases, intervention outcome studies are deplorably lacking. Therefore, a home-based Family Behavior Therapy is described in the treatment of a woman evidencing child neglect, substance dependence, domestic violence and other co-occurring problems. Treatment included contingency management, self control, stimulus control, communication and child management skills training exercises, and financial management components. Results indicated improvements in child abuse potential, home hazards, domestic violence, and drug use, which were substantiated by objective urinalysis testing, and tours of her home. Validity checks indicated the participant was being truthful in her responses to standardized questionnaires, and assessors were "blind" to study intent. Limitations (i.e., lack of experimental control and follow-up data collection) of this case example are discussed in light of these results. Tables and references (Published Abstract)