RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06526247

Evaluating Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence Use in Washington State

Sponsor

Boston University

Enrollment

800 participants

Start Date

Nov 18, 2024

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Intimate Partner Violence

Summary

Intimate partner violence (IPV), specifically physical and psychological aggression toward an intimate partner, represents a public health crisis that affects millions of Americans each year. There currently exists very little evidence from randomized controlled trials for the effectiveness of abuser intervention programs designed to prevent and end perpetration of IPV in the general population. This is troubling considering that approximately half a million men and women are court-mandated to these programs each year. The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial evaluating the effectiveness of the Strength at Home (SAH) intervention in reducing intimate partner violence (IPV). The overarching aim of this study is to determine whether outcomes achieved through SAH are non-inferior to those achieved through standard IPV interventions offered in the state of Washington (treatment as usual; TAU) among court-involved men who have used IPV. The specific aims are: 1.1: Compare the frequency of physical and psychological IPV, the primary outcomes of interest, across conditions as reported by the male participants and their intimate partners across Time 1 (baseline) and four 3-month follow ups (Times 2-5). It is expected that reductions in physical and psychological IPV perpetration observed in SAH will be non-inferior to those observed in TAU over the course of the year. 1.2: Compare symptoms of PTSD, alexithymia, and alcohol use problems across conditions and assessment time points as reported by the male participants. It is expected that reductions in PTSD symptoms, alexithymia, and alcohol use problems observed in SAH will be non-inferior to those observed in TAU over the course of the year. 1.3: Compare treatment satisfaction across conditions as reported by the male participants across the four 3-month follow ups (Times 2-5). It is expected that treatment satisfaction in SAH will be comparable to or greater than treatment satisfaction in TAU.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is evaluating programs designed to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) in Washington State. It looks at outcomes for men referred by the courts to attend IPV intervention programs, as well as their female partners. The goal is to understand which programs are most effective at preventing future violence. **You may be eligible if you are a man who...** - Identifies as a man - Has been court-referred for an intimate partner violence intervention program in Washington State - Consents for the research team to contact your intimate partner(s) **You may be eligible if you are a woman who...** - Identifies as a woman - Were or currently are an intimate partner involved in an IPV incident with a court-referred participant **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You are experiencing active psychosis that interferes with group participation - You have prominent thoughts of suicide or harming others that require hospitalization - You do not speak English proficiently - You are incarcerated after study enrollment Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALStrength at Home (SAH)

SAH is a group intervention that incorporates elements from interventions for violence and trauma. It is administered during 20 two-hour weekly sessions. The program uses a social information processing model based on the premise that trauma negatively impacts one's ability to interpret and respond to social situations effectively. It underscores the importance of cognitive behavioral strategies to monitor one's thoughts and responses to interpersonal situations.

BEHAVIORALTreatment as usual for IPV

Treatment as usual for IPV includes court-mandated interventions that require a minimum of 26 two-hour weekly sessions in Washington State and often extend substantially longer.