Domestic Violence
Conditions
Brief summary
This study will develop an individual behavior therapy for men who are violent toward their partners and will compare the therapy to standard group treatment.
Detailed description
To date, treatment interventions for domestic abuse perpetrators have been conducted almost exclusively in groups. However, the efficacy of such treatments relative to no treatment has not been thoroughly evaluated. Evidence suggests that individual treatments may be more effective than group treatments. This study will combine motivational enhancement therapy with cognitive and behavior change techniques to treat men who abuse their partners. This study will be conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, an individual cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) manual will be constructed. During Phase 2, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 16 sessions of ICBT or 16 sessions of standard group therapy. Data on abusive behavior outcomes and secondary treatment targets will be collected from participants and their partners every 3 months for 1 year after the study.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALIndividual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Involved in male-to-female physical aggression in the past 12 months or has a history of severe male-to-female aggression in a relationship * Current involvement in a primary intimate relationship (cohabiting, dating, or married) for at least 6 months, with partner contact at least once per week * Willingness to provide written consent for partner contact * Partner provides verbal assent for the use of information during an initial phone interview and agrees to be re-contacted for scheduled follow-up interviews
Exclusion criteria
* Psychotic symptoms or severe mood disorder * Mental retardation, autism, dementia, delirium, catatonia, or other severe cognitive disorders * Severe head trauma in the past two years * Seizure disorder * Current diagnosis of alcohol dependence or drug dependence. Participants must be in remission for at least 6 months if a past diagnosis is present.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Versus Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Partner-Violent Men study of physical assault, emotional abuse, and injury as reported by the male participant and his relationship partner | Three month intervals for one year after the initiation of treatment | Physical assault, emotional abuse, and injury as reported by the male participant and his relationship partner |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed