Adaptation of STEPPS Program for Addressing Emotional Dysregulation and Self-harming Behaviors in Penitentiary Centers

NCT06297460 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: STEPPSPENITENTIARY
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The overall objective of this study is to assess the feasibility, within the Penitentiary Centers of Catalonia, of adapting the STEPPS program for addressing and preventing emotional dysregulation and self-harming behaviors through an implementation study.

Conditions

Self Harm

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Level of emotional and behavioral disregulation of patients

  Using the Longitudinal assessment of the severity of emotional and behavioral dysregulation (Borderline Evaluation of Severity Over Time, BEST) (Blum et al., 2002), a 15-item questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale (1= none/very mild; 5= extremely) that assesses three areas: the intensity of thoughts and emotions, and negative and positive behaviors.

  Pre-intervention and inmediately after the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Type and levels of impulsivity of patients

  Pre-intervention and inmediately after the intervention

• Suicide risk of patients

  Pre-intervention and inmediately after the intervention

• Self-injury frequency, typology and funcionality of patients

  Pre-intervention and inmediately after the intervention

• Degree of hopeless of patients

  Pre-intervention and inmediately after the intervention

• Perceived level of feasibility by professionals

  Pre-intervention and inmediately after the intervention

Other Outcomes (1)

• Barriers and facilitators detected by professionals that are influencing the implementation process - Qualitative information

  Inmediately after the intervention

Study Arms (1)

STEPPS program

EXPERIMENTAL

The only condition is the experimental one. Participants receive the STEPPS program

Behavioral: Systems Training for Emotional Predictability & Problem Solving (STEPPS)

Interventions

Systems Training for Emotional Predictability & Problem Solving (STEPPS) BEHAVIORAL

STEPPS is based on a cognitive-behavioral and skills training approach divided into three major components. The first component (sessions: 1-2) teaches participants to replace misconceptions about the presented issues with greater awareness of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that characterize them. It also helps them identify their own thought patterns driving their behaviors. The second (sessions 3-12) teaches skills to more effectively manage the cognitive and emotional effects of the issues, such as distancing, communication, challenging, distraction, and problem-solving. The third component (sessions 13-19) teaches behavioral skills where participants are encouraged to master habits of healthy eating, sleep hygiene, regular exercise, leisure activities, health monitoring, self-harm prevention, and interpersonal effectiveness. The therapeutic objectives of the three blocks are awareness of illness (1), emotional regulation (2), and behavioral regulation (3).

STEPPS program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Men or women deprived of liberty serving sentences in a penitentiary center in Catalonia.
• Presence of self-harming behaviors.
• Sufficient understanding and proficiency in Spanish to participate in the STEPPS program.
• Sufficient cognitive competence for study participation.
• Mental capacity to provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Inmates under security measures or classified in the first degree of treatment.
• Inmates with language difficulties.
• Presence of severe pathologies that may hinder study participation.
• Inmates with the possibility of imminent release, impending transfers to other penitentiary centers, or pending trial.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitat Jaume I: lead
• Centre d'Estudis i Formació Especialtzada Generalitat de Catalunya: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Rosa

Castellon, Castellón, 12071, Spain

Location

Related Publications (6)

• Black DW, Blum N, Eichinger L, McCormick B, Allen J, Sieleni B. STEPPS: Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving in women offenders with borderline personality disorder in prison--a pilot study. CNS Spectr. 2008 Oct;13(10):881-6. doi: 10.1017/s1092852900016989.

  PMID: 18955943 BACKGROUND

• Black DW, Blum N, McCormick B, Allen J. Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) group treatment for offenders with borderline personality disorder. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2013 Feb;201(2):124-9. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e31827f6435.

  PMID: 23364121 BACKGROUND

• Arnau F, Garcia-Guerrero J, Benito A, Vera-Remartinez EJ, Baquero A, Haro G. Sociodemographic, Clinical, and Therapeutic Aspects of Penitentiary Psychiatric Consultation: Toward Integration Into the General Mental Health Services. J Forensic Sci. 2020 Jan;65(1):160-165. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.14137. Epub 2019 Jul 25.

  PMID: 31343744 BACKGROUND

• Brennan CA, Crosby H, Sass C, Farley KL, Bryant LD, Rodriquez-Lopez R, Romeu D, Mitchell E, House AO, Guthrie E. What helps people to reduce or stop self-harm? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of first-hand accounts. J Public Health (Oxf). 2023 Mar 14;45(1):154-161. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdac022.

  PMID: 35211734 BACKGROUND

• Lorente-Catala R, Jaen I, Busca-Huertas X, Framis B, Garcia-Palacios A. Implementation of the STEPPS program for the treatment of self-harm behaviors in Catalonia's prisons: barriers and facilitators. BMC Public Health. 2025 Jan 30;25(1):378. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-21519-8.

  PMID: 39885488 DERIVED

• Lorente-Catala R, Jaen I, Busca-Huertas X, Framis B, Garcia-Palacios A. Treating self-harm behaviors in prisons: implementation of the STEPPS program. BMC Psychol. 2025 Jan 16;13(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-02342-z.

  PMID: 39819704 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Self-Injurious Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Research Technical Staff

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 8, 2024
• First Posted: March 7, 2024
• Study Start: January 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2024
• Study Completion: December 1, 2025
• Last Updated: March 7, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)