Parenting Skills for Mothers With Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) (ProChild)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04169048 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : November 19, 2019
Last Update Posted : February 5, 2020
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The first disorder-specific parenting training program for mothers with Borderline Personality Disorder (M-BPD) is evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.
The training program is expected to have positive effects on parenting behavior, decrease the risk of maltreatment of the child, and improve emotion regulation in mothers at post treatment and at 6-month follow-up compared to a control group (treatment as usual; TAU).
Additionally, disorder-specific aspects of dysfunctional parenting behavior as well as BPD-specific aspects of child maltreatment are compared to a clinical control group (mothers with anxiety and/or depression, M-AD/D) and a healthy control group (M-CON).
To assess the differential development of parenting, the risk of maltreatment and emotion dysregulation in untreated M-BPD are compared to M-CON. The investigators expect the difference to increase over time, indicating a worsening in BPD parenting.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Borderline Personality Disorder Mothers | Behavioral: Group training for mothers with Borderline Personality Disorder | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 240 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | randomized controlled trial with intervention group and waiting group (treatment as usual) |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Preventing Maltreatment and Promoting Mental Health in Children of Mothers With Borderline Personality Disorder - ProChild |
Actual Study Start Date : | February 4, 2020 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | June 2022 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | March 2023 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Intervention group (BPD)
Participants (N=60) receive the weekly conducted intervention (group training for mothers with BPD) over the period of 12 weeks (12 sessions). Assessments of each participant: T0 (pre-intervention), T1 (post-intervention) and follow-up (6 months after T1).
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Behavioral: Group training for mothers with Borderline Personality Disorder
The group programme is designed to teach mothers with BPD parenting skills and to reduce dysfunctional parenting attitudes and strategies. The components are: childrens basics needs, mindfulness, stress and stress reduction, dealing with conflicts, dealing with emotions, dysfunctional attitudes, physical contact, parenting rules, self care. |
No Intervention: waiting control group (BPD)
Members of this group (N=60) receive no intervention but treatment as usual (TAU). After completing all assessment points (T0, T1, T2), they can receive the intervention of the intervention group (group training).
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No Intervention: clinical control group (AD/MDD)
Mothers with anxiety and/or depression (N=60) receive no intervention. Assessment point only T0.
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No Intervention: healthy control group
Mothers with no actual mental disorder (N=60) receive no intervention.# Assessment points T0, T1, T2.
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- Change in dysfunctional discipline practices [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) ]Parenting Scale (Arnold, O'Leary, Wolff & Acker, 1993; german version: Erziehungsfragebogen-Kurzform, EFB-K; Miller, 2001). Questionniare measuring dysfunctional discipline practices in parents. Mean values range between 1-7 with higher values indicating more negative parenting strategies.
- Change in positive and dysfunctional parenting strategies [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) ]Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (Frick, 1991; German DEAPQ-EL-GS; Reichle & Franiek, 2007). The questionnaire assesses several parenting strategies with 7 subscales (positive parenting, responsible parenting, parental Involvement, poor monitoring/supervision, inconsistent discipline, corporal punishment, powerful implementation). Range 6-30, with higher values indicating more of the respective parenting strategy
- Change in child rearing competence [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) ]Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC, Gibeau- Wallston & Wandersman, 1978; German FKE; Miller, 2001). The PSOC measures how parents perceive their child rearing competence. Range 0-96 with higher values indicating higher sense of competence.
- Change in parental stress [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) ]Parental Stress Index (PSI, Abidin, 1995; German EBI; Tröster, 2010). The PSI is a dimensional rating of parental stress. Range 48 - 240 with higher values indicating higher stress.
- Change in physical and psychological aggression towards child [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) ]Conflict Tactic Scale - Parent Child (CTS-PC; Strauss, 1998). The CTSPC measures the extent to which a parent has carried out specific acts of physical and psychological aggression. Range 0-300 with higher values indicating higher annual frequency
- Change in physical abuse potential [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) ]Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI, Milner, 1986, German EBSK; Deegener et al., 2009). The CAPI measures physical abuse potential with reference to the individual burden and three validity scales: a lie scale, a random response scale, and an inconsistency scale. t-values are calculated considering all scales.
- Change in child neglect [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) and for the intervention group after each session. ]Child Neglect Index (CNI; Trocmé, 1996). The CNI measures child neglect, rated by the diagnostician. Range 0-80 with higher values indicating higher neglect.
- Change in emotion regulation [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) ]Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004). Difficulties in emotion regulation are measured with a) awareness and understanding of emotions; (b) acceptance of emotions; (c) the ability to engage in goal-directed behavior, and refrain from impulsive behavior, when experiencing negative emotions; and (d) access to emotion regulation strategies perceived as effective. Range 36 - 180 with higher values indicating more problems in emotion regulation.
- Change in mental distress [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) ]Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI, Derogatis, 1975; German: Franke, 2000). The BSI measures mental distress. Results are displayed via t-values.
- Change in borderline specific thoughts and feelings [ Time Frame: day 0 (before treatment), week 12 (after treatment), month 9 (6 months after second assessment) ]Questionnaire of Thoughts and Feelings (QTF, Renneberg et al., 2010). The QTF measures borderline specific thoughts and feelings. Range 1-5 with higher values indicating more BPD-specific thoughts and feelings.
- Negative intervention outcomes [ Time Frame: week 12 (after treatment) (intervention group only) ]Questionniare assessing negative intervention outcomes (INEP, Ladwig, Rief, & Nestoriouc, 2014).The INEP measures negative effects of psychotherapy in different areas of life (intrapersonal change, relationships, friendships, family, malpractice, and stigmatization). Range from -3 to +3. Higher values indicating better therapeutic course.
- client satisfaction [ Time Frame: week 12 (after treatment) (intervention group only) ]Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8, Attkisson & Zwick, 1982; German ZUF-8; Schmidt, Lamprecht & Wittmann, 1989). CSQ-8 measures client satisfaction with intervention. Range 8-32 with higher values indicating greater satisfaction.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion criteria for mothers with BPD:
- diagnosed with BPD (assessed via SCID-PD)
- running or completed therapy for BPD symptoms
- child between 6 months and 6 years
- living with child or regular (weekly) contact
Exclusion criteria for the mothers with BPD
- Acute child endangerment
- maternal acute suicidality
- maternal psychotic symptoms (assessed via SCID-CV)
- maternal acute alcohol or drug dependency (assessed via SCID-CV)
- maternal diagnosed intellectual disability.
Inclusion criteria for mothers with depression and/or anxiety disorders:
- diagnosed with acute affective or anxiety disorder (assessed via SCID-CV)
- child between 6 months and 6 years
- living with child or regular (weekly) contact
Exclusion criteria for mothers with depression and/or anxiety disorders:
- Acute child endangerment
- maternal acute suicidality
- maternal psychotic symptoms (assessed via SCID-CV)
- maternal acute alcohol or drug dependency (assessed via SCID-CV)
- maternal diagnosed intellectual disability
- lifetime diagnosis of BPD (assessed via SCID-PD)
Inclusion criteria for healthy control group:
- child between 6 months and 6 years
- living with child or regular (weekly) contact
Exclusion criteria for the healthy control group:
- Acute child endangerment
- maternal acute suicidality
- maternal psychotic symptoms (assessed via SCID-CV)
- maternal acute alcohol or drug dependency (assessed via SCID-CV)
- maternal diagnosed intellectual disability.
- lifetime diagnosis of BPD (assessed via SCID-PD)
- any acute mental disorder (assessed via SCID-CV)
- current psychotherapy

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04169048
Contact: Charlotte Rosenbach, Dr. | 00493083851258 | c.rosenbach@fu-berlin.de |
Germany | |
Freie Universität Berlin | Recruiting |
Berlin, Germany | |
Contact: Anne Trösken |
Principal Investigator: | Babette Renneberg, Prof. | Freie Universität Berlin |
Responsible Party: | Babette Renneberg, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04169048 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
RenRos02 |
First Posted: | November 19, 2019 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 5, 2020 |
Last Verified: | February 2020 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Personality Disorders Borderline Personality Disorder Mental Disorders |