This study examines a population of spouse abusers undertaking a treatment program. Its purpose was to identify the variables associated with dropout and completion of treatment and to build a predictive model. Data were collected on 286 men who began group treatment in one of eight community programs in the province of Quebec, Canada. Results show that men who complete treatment are older, better educated and have better economic conditions than men who drop out. They also have a more stable family life, have been in a relationship for a longer period of time and have more children with their actual spouse. Men who completed treatment showed more commitment, better working capacities and a higher level of agreement with their therapists, thus developing a stronger therapeutic alliance. Support provided by people in the environment was significantly related to treatment completion. Social and judicial pressures were not related to completion.

Background: Treatment preferences of patients suffering from depression may affect adherence and clinical outcomes. This study examines associations between patients' treatment preferences, their characteristics and illness representations of depression. Methods: Illness representations of depression (IPQ-R), treatment acceptability and preferences were assessed in 88 newly diagnosed patients with first episode depression. Other measures recorded: gender, age, education level, income, psychiatric comorbidity, depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9), a family history of depression, and current treatment of depression. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with a preference for psychotherapy. Results: Psychotherapy was preferred by 41% of participants, while 31% favored antidepressants. Acceptability was strongly associated with preference. Patients preferring psychotherapy perceived that their depression has more serious consequences than those preferring medication and were more likely to attribute their depression to social causes than psychological or physical causes. Participants who preferred psychotherapy were more likely to be female, have a university degree and have a family history of depression. Limitations: The cross-sectional design precludes causal interpretations. Conclusions: Preferences vary according to gender, level of education, family history and illness representations. It may be important to provide accurate information on both treatments and discuss patients' preferences before prescribing treatment. Methods: Illness representations of depression (IPQ-R), treatment acceptability and preferences were assessed in 88 newly diagnosed patients with first episode depression. 1 Treatment preferences in patients with first episode depressionOther measures recorded: gender, age, education level, income, psychiatric comorbidity, depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9), a family history of depression, and current treatment of depression. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with a preference for psychotherapy.Results: Psychotherapy was preferred by 41% of participants, while 31% favored antidepressants. Acceptability was strongly associated with preference. Patients preferring psychotherapy perceived that their depression has more serious consequences than those preferring medication and were more likely to attribute their depression to social causes than psychological or physical causes. Participants who preferred psychotherapy were more likely to be female, have a university degree and have a family history of depression. Limitations:The cross-sectional design precludes causal interpretations. Conclusions:Preferences vary according to gender, level of education, family history and illness representations. It may be important to provide accurate information on both treatments and discuss patients' preferences before prescribing treatment.

Attrition in intervention programs for domestically violent men is considered to be a serious and enduring problem. Researchers have found a number of sociodemographic variables that partially explain this phenomenon; however, models based on these variables have a limited predictive power. Scott (2004) argues that a firm theoretical base is needed in future investigations of the problem and suggests the use of the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM), which was found to predict dropout with accuracy in other areas of behavioral change. This study investigated the relationship between four TTM constructs (Stages of Change, Decisional Balance, Self-Efficacy, and Processes of Change) and premature termination with a sample of Canadian French-speaking men (N = 302) in five domestic violence treatment programs. Contrary to the initial hypotheses, the TTM constructs did not predict dropout. Discussion investigates how social desirability bias affects results being obtained by current TTM measures and whether more motivation to change at intake necessarily relates to involvement in treatment for longer periods of time.

This article summarizes issues and priorities for prevalence surveys and intervention studies raised by researchers and practitioners at an international symposium on transnational and cross-cultural research on family violence, convened near Montréal, Canada, in June 2003. The major conceptual questions were What is meant by transnational or cross-cultural research? and What should be included in the definition of family violence? The major methodological questions were What level of standardization of measurement is needed to reliably make comparisons across nations and cultures? and Should the measures be of “acts” of abuse and violence or the “effects” of those acts?

Des tables de concertation intersectorielle en violence conjugale sont en place au Québec depuis plus de quinze ans. La politique gouvernementale Prévenir, dépister, contrer la violence conjugale de 1995 a choisi la concertation intersectorielle comme instrument d’action privilégié en la matière. Le présent article présente le profil de ces tables dans les différentes régions du Québec. Ces tables sont composées à la fois d’organismes communautaires et d’établissements des réseaux concernés. L’analyse des données révèle le caractère répandu et hétérogène de la concertation entre les secteurs santé et services sociaux, sécurité publique, justice, éducation et autres.Multisectorial coordinating committees in the field of conjugal violence have been established in Quebec for more than fifteen years. The governmental policy Prévenir, dépister, contrer la violence conjugale adopted in 1995 selected intersectorial coordination as its preferred means of action in this matter. This article draws the profile of the existing committees in the various regions of Quebec. The committees include non-profit community organizations as well as governmental services and institutions. Data analysis reveals that coordination among the sectors of health, social services, police, justice, education and others is a widely scattered but heterogeneous phenomenon