Intimate Partner ViolenceEMBER-4NCT07618754
Shame, Resilience and Well-being After Intimate Partner Violence: an Intervention Study With Replicated Single-Subject Design.
A study testing Resilience enhancing intervention, individual format and Resilience enhancing intervention, group format in people with Intimate Partner Violence and Resilience, Psychological, run by Uppsala University at 1 site in Sweden.
Trial summary
The EMBER protocol is a health care method that is designed to increase resilience, in order to improve well-being and overall health in women who have experienced violence by a partner. This study explores whether the EMBER intervention works in this way. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Intimate Partner Violence, Resilience, Psychological
- What is being tested?
- Resilience enhancing intervention, individual format and Resilience enhancing intervention, group format
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 8 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSweden
- Study dates
- Jun 2026to Jun 2030
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- subjected to IPV within 2 years prior to enrollment
- capable of completing questionnaires using a mobile phone
- intention to complete intervention
- identifies as female
Who cannot join
- ongoing severe IPV
- ongoing severe substance use
- psychosis
- moderate to severe suicidality
- ongoing psychological intervention in other facility
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Sweden1 site
Uppsala University Hospital
Uppsala, Uppsala County, 75185
Tove Filén, +46186170785, tove.filen@nck.uu.se
About this study
The EMBER protocol is a health care method that is designed to increase resilience, in order to improve well-being and overall health in women who have experienced violence by a partner. This study explores whether the EMBER intervention works in this way. Eight participants will take part in the EMBER program and complete questionnaires every week during the intervention. The researchers will compare the timeline for the intervention to how resilience levels change. They will also check whether changes in resilience are linked to changes in health and well-being.
Read the detailed description
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global problem with complex consequences in society as well as for the victim/survivor. The EMBER-protocol was developed at National Center for Knowledge on Men´s violence against Women, Uppsala University, Sweden. The purpose of the protocol is to provide women who have been subjected to IPV with support and tools for empowerment and improving resilience, thereby improving health and well-being. In this study with replicated single-case design, 8 patients will complete questionnaires bi-weekly while taking part of the intervention, starting from their very first contact with the clinic. The questionnaires are completed using a mobile application. Data will be processed using a combination of visual and statistical analysis, in order to examine how interventions intended to improve resilience, changes in resilience measures and changes in well-being and health relate to each other temporally.
- Being tested
- Resilience enhancing intervention, individual format, Resilience enhancing intervention, group format
- Keywords
- Single Case Design, Intimate Partner Violence, Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence and Abuse, Resilience, psychological, Trauma, Well-Being
- Medical subject headings
- Wounds and Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Resilience enhancing intervention, individual formatOther
Also called EMBER Phase A
A 4-step, Resilience-focused intervention based on the Resilience Portfolio Model, administered in individual format.
Resilience enhancing intervention, group formatOther
Also called EMBER phase C
A 4-step, Resilience-focused intervention based on the Resilience Portfolio Model, administered in group format.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| EMBER intervention | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Resilience enhancing intervention, individual format; Other: Resilience enhancing intervention, group format |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Resilience - Psychological Endurance
The self assessment questionnaire Psychological Endurance Scale (range 6-24, higher value indicates higher endurance) is completed bi-weekly using a mobile application. Data will be analyzed with a combination of visual and statistical analyses.
Measured: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 weeks post-intervention.
Resilience - Subjective Social Support
The Oslo Subjective Social Support Scale - 3 items (range 3-14, higher value indicates higher level of social support) is completed bi-weekly using a mobile application. Data will be processed using a combination of visual and statistical analyses.
Measured: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of intervention to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 weeks post-intervention.
Resilience - Meaning Making
The MAPS - Meaningfulness subscale (range 5-25, higher value indicating higher meaningfulness) is completed by the subjects bi-weekly. Data is processed using a combination of statistical and visual analyses.
Measured: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of the intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 weeks post-intervention.
Secondary outcomes (3)
Health
General, Somatic, Mental, Social and Sexual health is measured by 5 questions regarding subjective health the past week which are administered to the subject using a mobile application. The subject grades ones health on a visuoanalogue scale ranging from -10 to +10. The range on the total scale is thus -50 to +50, subscales -10 to +10. Higher value indicates better health. Data is processed using a combination in visual and statistical analyses.
Measured: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to the intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 weeks post-intervention.
Shame
Shame is measured using the External and Internal Shame Scale (EISS; range 0.00-4.00, higher value indicating higher levels of shame), administered to patients using a mobile application. Data is processed using a combination of statistical and visual analyses.
Measured: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of the intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 at weeks post-intervention.
Well-Being
Well-being is measured bi-weekly using the Questionnaire on Well-Being (QWB, range 0-72, higher value indicating more wellbeing). Data is processed using a combination of statistical and visual analyses.
Measured: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of the intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up at 6 weeks post-intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Jun 2026
- Study startJun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionMay 2030 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Intimate Partner ViolenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Uppsala UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single Case Experimental Design (SCED). Baseline 2-6 weeks before the intervention start.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 8 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Uppsala University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Carolina Överlien, Professor, Principal investigator, The National Centre for Knowledge on Men's Violence Against Women, Uppsala university
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07618754
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EMBER-4
- Acronym
- EMBER-4
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 25 May 2026
- Last updated
- 1 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Shame, Resilience and Well-being After Intimate Partner Violence: an Intervention Study With Replicated Single-Subject Design.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07618754
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EMBER-4 / EMBER-4
- Keywords
- Single Case Design, Intimate Partner Violence, Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence and Abuse, Resilience, psychological, Trauma, Well-Being
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 8 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Uppsala UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- May 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The EMBER protocol is a health care method that is designed to increase resilience, in order to improve well-being and overall health in women who have experienced violence by a partner. This study explores whether the EMBER intervention works in this way. Eight participants will take part in the EMBER program and complete questionnaires every week during the intervention. The researchers will compare the timeline for the intervention to how resilience levels change. They will also check whether changes in resilience are linked to changes in health and well-being.
Detailed description
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global problem with complex consequences in society as well as for the victim/survivor. The EMBER-protocol was developed at National Center for Knowledge on Men´s violence against Women, Uppsala University, Sweden. The purpose of the protocol is to provide women who have been subjected to IPV with support and tools for empowerment and improving resilience, thereby improving health and well-being. In this study with replicated single-case design, 8 patients will complete questionnaires bi-weekly while taking part of the intervention, starting from their very first contact with the clinic. The questionnaires are completed using a mobile application. Data will be processed using a combination of visual and statistical analysis, in order to examine how interventions intended to improve resilience, changes in resilience measures and changes in well-being and health relate to each other temporally.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single Case Experimental Design (SCED). Baseline 2-6 weeks before the intervention start.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| EMBER intervention | Experimental | Other: Resilience enhancing intervention, individual format, Other: Resilience enhancing intervention, group format |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- subjected to IPV within 2 years prior to enrollment
- capable of completing questionnaires using a mobile phone
- intention to complete intervention
- identifies as female
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- ongoing severe IPV
- ongoing severe substance use
- psychosis
- moderate to severe suicidality
- ongoing psychological intervention in other facility
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Resilience enhancing intervention, individual formatAlso: EMBER Phase AA 4-step, Resilience-focused intervention based on the Resilience Portfolio Model, administered in individual format. | Other | EMBER intervention |
| Resilience enhancing intervention, group formatAlso: EMBER phase CA 4-step, Resilience-focused intervention based on the Resilience Portfolio Model, administered in group format. | Other | EMBER intervention |
Primary outcome
Resilience - Psychological Endurance
Time frame: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 weeks post-intervention.
The self assessment questionnaire Psychological Endurance Scale (range 6-24, higher value indicates higher endurance) is completed bi-weekly using a mobile application. Data will be analyzed with a combination of visual and statistical analyses.
Resilience - Subjective Social Support
Time frame: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of intervention to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 weeks post-intervention.
The Oslo Subjective Social Support Scale - 3 items (range 3-14, higher value indicates higher level of social support) is completed bi-weekly using a mobile application. Data will be processed using a combination of visual and statistical analyses.
Resilience - Meaning Making
Time frame: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of the intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 weeks post-intervention.
The MAPS - Meaningfulness subscale (range 5-25, higher value indicating higher meaningfulness) is completed by the subjects bi-weekly. Data is processed using a combination of statistical and visual analyses.
3 secondary outcomes
Health
Time frame: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to the intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 weeks post-intervention.
Shame
Time frame: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of the intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 at weeks post-intervention.
Well-Being
Time frame: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of the intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up at 6 weeks post-intervention.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Intimate Partner Violence
Not yet recruiting
The Development of a Transdiagnostic Intervention to Improve Social Functioning and Intimate Relationships Among Veterans
Alcohol Problems, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Recruiting
Adjunctive Motivational Alcohol Intervention to Prevent IPV
Alcohol Use and Intimate Partner Violence
Recruiting
SER Familia: A Family-Based Intervention Addressing Syndemic Conditions Among Latino Families
Substance Abuse, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
Recruiting
RISE Versus Advocacy-based Enhanced Care as Usual for Patients Experiencing IPV
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
Not yet recruiting
Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy for Male Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators With Personality Disorders
Intimate Partner Violence, Personality Disorders
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Carolina Överlien, Professor principal investigator
The National Centre for Knowledge on Men's Violence Against Women, Uppsala university
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Resilience enhancing intervention, individual format and Resilience enhancing intervention, group format in people with Intimate Partner Violence and Resilience, Psychological, run by Uppsala University at 1 site in Sweden.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Tove Filén, PhD-student (+46186170785, tove.filen@nck.uu.se), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Resilience - Psychological Endurance (time frame: Bi-weekly from enrollment 2-6 weeks prior to start of intervention, to completion of the intervention (intervention phase A and/or C). Follow-up 6 weeks post-intervention.). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Jun 2026.