The Effectiveness of Intervention Programs for Perpetrators and Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

In this review, we provide a descriptive and detailed review of intervention programs for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators and survivor-victims. Given the extensive personal, interpersonal, and societal costs associated with IPV, it is essential that services being offered by the criminal justice, mental health, and medical communities have requisite empirical support to justify their implementation. The review involved a detailed summary of all studies published since 1990 using randomized or quasi-experimental designs that compared an active intervention program to a relevant comparison condition. These studies included 20 studies investigating the effectiveness of “traditional” forms of batterer intervention programs (BIPs) aimed at perpetrators of IPV, 10 studies that investigated the effectiveness of alternative formats of BIPs, 16 studies of brief intervention programs for IPV victim-survivors, and 15 studies of more extended intervention programs for IPV victim-survivors. Interventions for perpetrators showed equivocal results regarding their ability to lower the risk of IPV, and available studies had many methodological flaws. More recent investigations of novel programs with alternative content have shown promising results. Among interventions for victim-survivors of IPV, a range of therapeutic approaches have been shown to produce enhancements in emotional functioning, with the strongest support for cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches in reducing negative symptomatic effects of IPV. Supportive advocacy in community settings has been shown to reduce the frequency of revictimization relative to no-treatment controls, although rates of revictimization remain alarmingly high in these studies. Brief interventions for victim-survivors have had more complex and less consistently positive effects. Several studies have found significant increases in safety behaviors, but enhanced use of community resources is often not found. It remains unclear whether brief safety interventions produce longer term reduction in IPV revictimization. Discussion summarizes the general state of knowledge on interventions for IPV perpetrators and victim-survivors and important areas for future research.

Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programs: A Proposal for Evidence-Based Standards in the United States

“…However, the same authors determined in their meta-analysis that pro-violent attitudes do in fact predict relationship violence, findings also reported by Capaldi et al (2012) in their review of the literature and by the National Family Violence Survey (Chan & Straus, 2008). Furthermore, identifying, disputing, and altering cognitive distortions irrational beliefs of all types is a central component of effective CBT programs (Babcock et al, 2004;Eckhardt et al, 2013 (Stosny, 1995). In one study, Stosny (2005) low client dropout rates and significant decreases in physical and emotional abuse were found among men who were provided emotion management skills with which to overcome shame-based anger.…”

“…The most recent reviews of BIPs basically indicate that there is no clear evidence that BIPs are effective, especially if one is referring to traditional BIPs. "Interventions for perpetrators," according to Eckhardt et al (2013) "show equivocal results regarding their ability to lower the risk of IPV, in part because of widespread methodological flaws, although more recent investigations of novel programs with alternative content relative to traditional programs appear to show promising results" (p. 225). Eckhardt et al (2013) found 20 studies that were deemed adequate for a review and 14 of those studies were Duluth-type programs, 4 were CBT-type programs with a therapeutic focus, and 2 with other foci.…”

“…"Interventions for perpetrators," according to Eckhardt et al (2013) "show equivocal results regarding their ability to lower the risk of IPV, in part because of widespread methodological flaws, although more recent investigations of novel programs with alternative content relative to traditional programs appear to show promising results" (p. 225). Eckhardt et al (2013) found 20 studies that were deemed adequate for a review and 14 of those studies were Duluth-type programs, 4 were CBT-type programs with a therapeutic focus, and 2 with other foci. To be included in the review, the study had to have (a) an intervention for perpetrators, (b) one or more comparisons groups, (c) a measure of recidivism, and (d) published since 1990.…”

“…A better question might be what specific interventions across treatment models predict positive treatment outcomes? According to the review by Eckhardt et al (2013), RAC research suggests that the use of client-centered approaches such as MI, and other techniques aimed at building a facilitator-client alliance, significantly reduce rates of recidivism among individuals court ordered to BIPs. Upcoming sections will examine such intervention in greater detail and investigate promising approaches based on proper assessment procedures and differential treatment.…”

“…(Cannon et al, 2016). The CBT programs determined to have been the most effective in reducing IPV recidivism feature stress reduction components in their curriculum (Babcock et al, 2004;Eckhardt et al, 2013 Research: Given the lack of correlation between male perpetrators' sexist, traditional sex role beliefs and IPV perpetration (Sugarman & Frankel, 1996), the Duluth focus on patriarchy and gender roles appears to be misplaced. However, the same authors determined in their meta-analysis that pro-violent attitudes do in fact predict relationship violence, findings also reported by Capaldi et al (2012) in their review of the literature and by the National Family Violence Survey (Chan & Straus, 2008).…”