Violence brief interventions: A rapid review

Abstract

Provision of a Violence Brief Intervention (VBI) to young men undergoing treatment for a violent injury may represent a teachable moment for the prevention of future interpersonal violence in Scotland. Prior to intervention design, a rapid review of the research literature was necessary to examine existing programmes. After title and abstract screening, eight distinct VBIs were identified from full texts. Whilst none of the programmes were a perfect match for our intervention goals, they did demonstrate the potential effectiveness of brief interventions for violence prevention at both cognitive and behavioural levels. Key themes of successful interventions included brief motivational interviewing as an effective method of engaging with at-risk participants and encouraging change, the utility of social norms approaches for correcting peer norm misperceptions, the usefulness of working with victims of violence in medical settings (particularly oral and maxillofacial surgeries), the importance of addressing the role of alcohol after violent injury, the advantages of a computer-therapist hybrid model of delivery, and the need for adequate follow-up evaluation as part of a randomised control trial. This information has been used to design a VBI which is currently under evaluation.

10-y Risks of Death and Emergency Re-admission in Adolescents Hospitalised with Violent, Drug- or Alcohol-Related, or Self-Inflicted Injury: A Population-Based Cohort Study

“…Although some interventions in the UK for self-inflicted injury have shown positive effects, these were in samples too small to provide conclusive results [ 3 ]. Brief psychosocial interventions to address violent behaviour or alcohol misuse [ 41 – 47 ] have shown promise for improving outcomes and for cost-effectiveness [ 41 , 48 , 49 ], but follow-up was limited to 18 mo. In addition, these interventions have been evaluated predominantly in the US, where there are cultural differences in violence and drinking behaviours, healthcare systems, and social welfare support.…”

A comprehensive technical package for the prevention of youth violence and associated risk behaviors

“…Motivational interviewing to engage youth and encourage behavior change, components to address peer norms about risk behaviors, and ways to manage life stressors and situations post-injury are elements of these interventions. 226 , is effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, and behavioral problems as well as strengthening positive parenting practices. 221,227 TF-CBT was originally designed to address symptoms associated with sexual abuse and has been adapted to treat other traumas including witnessing community or domestic violence, which are important risk factors for youth violence.…”

Unpacking Violent Behavior in Young Adulthood: The Relative Importance of Hazardous Alcohol Use

“…Drug prevention initiatives that target executive functioning and improving socialization skills may be particularly beneficial (Giancola & Parker, 2001). Given relatively high rates of violent behavior during young adulthood, it is critical to shift the focus from response-based efforts (i.e., rehabilitation, punishment) to investing in violence prevention through trauma-informed interventions that focus on alcohol (Neville et al, 2014). Prevention interventions have significant potential to equip young people with the coping resources they need before they transition into young adulthood, a period of high-risk for both alcohol use and violent behavior.…”