CURRENT RESEARCH IN SFBT

Kim, J. S., Brook, J., & Akin, B. (in press). Randomized controlled trial study of Solution-Focused

Study purpose: This study sought to examine the effectiveness of SFBT on substance abuse and trauma-related problems compared to treatment-as-usual (cognitive-behavioral therapy & CBT plus Motivational Interviewing). Participants: Child welfare-involved parents seeking counseling services from an outpatient counseling center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Inclusion criteria: (1) families with children placed in out-of-home care with a case plan goal of reunification; (2) alcohol or drug abuse of the parent is a contributing condition to the adjudication of petition; (3) families have an open case in the area jurisdiction in which parental substance abuse is alleged; (4) families must have at least one parent who met the criteria specified in DSM-V for alcohol or illicit drug abuse or dependence at the time of child removal; (5) parents are 18 years or older and consent to participate. Method: Randomized controlled trial utilizing mixed linear modeling to test the changes using intent-to-treat analysis and effect sizes to examine the magnitude of treatment effects. The treatment group received SFBT intervention and the control group received treatment as usual, consisting of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and occasionally CBT combined with Motivational Interviewing. Result: Most of the effect size estimates for the SFBT and control groups were smaller in this study than the previous one and this study found statistical significance favoring SFBT on between-group effect size for TSC depression subscale. Results show SFBT can be effective in helping clients address substance use and trauma related problems and in fact may be slightly better than current evidence-based approaches for trauma. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Study Setting: Outpatient Services Study Setting: Outpatient Services