Support for inter-parental conflict

Evaluation of Tavistock Relationships MBT-PP to improve child outcomes by reducing inter-parental conflict: a pragmatic efficacy randomised controlled trial with internal pilot

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN10266960

Enrollment

1400

Registered

2023-03-20

Start date

2023-03-20

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-04-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Children's internalising (emotional symptoms and peer problems) and externalising (conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention) behaviours. Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

The intervention of interest in this trial is Mentalising-Based Therapy for Parents under Pressure (MBT-PP). MBT-PP is a 10-session psychotherapeutic intervention for parents with a high level of inte

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

8 Years to 14 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Parent of child(ren) aged 8-14 years 2. High level of conflict with child(ren)’s other parent 3. Both parents willing to try a supportive intervention to reduce the conflict. 4. One or both parents must score <13 on the DAS-4 5. Referred by local authority staff in one of the 3 participating local authorities (Bristol, Dorset, and Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP)).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Current issues with substance or alcohol misuse in either parent. 2. Significant mental health diagnosis which is not currently well-managed. 3. Current domestic abuse or violence. 4. Current engagement in care proceedings or private family law proceedings.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Children’s internalising and externalising behaviours, measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) ‘total difficulties’ sub-scale, at post-intervention.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Children’s internalising and externalising behaviours, measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) ‘total difficulties’ sub-scale, at follow-up. 2. Children’s psychological well-being, measured using the Stirling Children’s Well-being Scale (Liddle & Carter, 2015) at post-intervention and follow up. 3. Parent reports of conflict, measured using an adapted version of the O’Leary-Porter Scale (Porter & O’Leary, 1980), at post-intervention and follow up. 4. Child perception of inter-parental conflict, measured using the Perceptions of Interparental Conflict-Intensity/Frequency Scale (PIC-I/F) (Kline, Wood & Moore, 2003), at post-intervention and follow up. 5. Parent anger, measured using the Dimensions of Anger Reactions- Revised (DAR-R; (Nederlof, Hovens, Muris & Novaco, 2009), at post-intervention and follow up. 6. Parent mentalising capacity, measured using the Parental Reflective Function Questionnaire (Luyten et al., 2009), at post-intervention and follow up. 7. Parenting style, measured using the Parenting Scale Short Form (PS-8) (Kliem et al., 2019), a short form of the Parenting Scale (Arnold et al., 1993,) at post-intervention and follow up. 8. For separated parents only, emotional adaptation to the separation, measured using the Emotional Adaptation to Relationship Dissolution Assessment (Millings et al., 2020), at post-intervention and follow up.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Children’s internalising and externalising behaviours, measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) ‘total difficulties’ sub-scale, at follow-up. 2. Children’s psychological well-being, measured using the Stirling Children’s Well-being Scale (Liddle & Carter, 2015) at post-intervention and follow up. 3. Parent reports of conflict, measured using an adapted version of the O’Leary-Porter Scale (Porter & O’Leary, 1980), at post-intervention and follow up. 4. Child perception of inter-parental conflict, measured using the Perceptions of Interparental Conflict-Intensity/Frequency Scale (PIC-I/F) (Kline, Wood & Moore, 2003), at post-intervention and follow up. 5. Parent anger, measured using the Dimensions of Anger Reactions- Revised (DAR-R; (Nederlof, Hovens, Muris & Novaco, 2009), at post-intervention and follow up. 6. Parent mentalising capacity, measured using the Parental Reflective Function Questionnaire (Luyten et al., 2009), at post-intervention and follow up. 7. Parenting style, measured using the Parenting Scale Short Form (PS-8) (Kliem et al., 2019), a short form of the Parenting Scale (Arnold et al., 1993,) at post-intervention and follow up. 8. For separated parents only, emotional adaptation to the separation, measured using the Emotional Adaptation to Relationship Dissolution Assessment (Millings et al., 2020), at post-intervention and follow up.

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Countries

England, United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: May 1, 2026