Talking for Change — a program to help adults who are worried about sexually offending against children

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This patient-preference randomized controlled trial compares three arms: a 20-week Talking for Change (TFC) group psychotherapy, a 20-week control group psychotherapy focused on general mental health and stress, and a no-treatment benchmarking arm. Blinded clinical raters will measure the primary outcome of reductions in dynamic risk factors for sexual offending, while participants will self-report changes in sexual contact with children, accessing child sexual exploitation material (CSEM), and sexual desire for children. Adults referred to the TFC program for concerns about elevated risk are eligible, and randomization accommodates participant preferences. The study is led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto with collaboration from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

For the treatment arms, the participant must meet all of the inclusion criteria to eligible for this clinical trial:

1. Must be deemed to have capacity to provide informed consent;
2. Must sign and date the informed consent form;
3. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures;
4. Be 18 years of age or older upon study commencement;
5. Be referred for care in the TFC program due to concerns about enhanced risk of sexual offending against children.

For the benchmarking interview arm, the participant must meet all of the following inclusion criteria:

1. Must self-report concerns about enhanced risk of sexual offending against children
2. Must be deemed to have capacity to provide informed consent;
3. Must check the appropriate box on the informed consent form;
4. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures;
5. Be 18 years of age or older upon study commencement.

For the benchmarking survey arm, participants must check the appropriate box on the informed consent form.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

For the treatment arms:

1. Inability to engage meaningfully in group psychotherapy (e.g., due to intellectual disability, other neurodiversity, active psychosis or substance use)
2. Those who self-identify as at-risk for reasons better accounted for by non-risk-relevant factors per clinical assessment (e.g., those with obsessive-compulsive disorder including thoughts about CSA, who commonly fear that they are at-risk but are not).
3. Non-male sex.

For the benchmarking interview arm:

1\. Non-male sex.

Where it's running

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Artemis Igoumenou, M.D., Ph.D. — Complex Care and Recovery Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
• Study coordinator: Artemis Igoumenou, M.D., Ph.D.
• Email: artemis.igoumenou@camh.ca
• Phone: 416-535-8501

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Helping toddlers of caregivers with substance use disorders build language skills with group and individualized parenting supports

  This project will test whether adding coaching and one-on-one lessons to a group parenting program helps toddlers (12–42 months) of caregivers with substance use disorders develop better language skills.

  Recruiting University of Oregon · Eugene, Oregon · NCT07529327

• Health conversations and movement support to help older adults age well

  This project will test whether structured health dialogues and lifestyle support help people aged 67–84 in Borgholm stay healthier, improve quality of life, and reduce future healthcare needs.

  Recruiting Linkoeping University · Borgholm, County of Kalmar · NCT07136168

• Self-guided therapy to help reduce child sexual abuse material use

  This study is testing a self-guided therapy program to help people who feel urges to use child sexual abuse material learn to manage those urges and reduce their use.

  Recruiting at 2 sites The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre · Ottawa and 1 other locations · NCT06778044

• Peer mentoring program to strengthen nursing students' empathy and leadership

  This project will test whether a six-week peer mentoring program helps second- to fourth-year nursing students improve their empathic self-efficacy, social self-efficacy, and youth leadership.

  Recruiting Suleyman Demirel University · Isparta, Merkez · NCT06657443

• Parent-focused prevention program for child sexual abuse

  This study tests a new program for parents called Smart Parents to see if it helps them better protect their children from sexual abuse compared to regular parenting support.

  Recruiting New York University · New York, New York · NCT05976867

• Circles of Safety program to prevent child sexual abuse in youth sports

  This project will test whether the Circles of Safety program helps coaches and league leaders in youth sports prevent and respond to child sexual abuse.

  Recruiting Center for Violence Prevention Research Inc · Gainesville, Florida · NCT07526142

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.