Future Directions in Mandated Standards for Domestic Violence Offenders

Summary

Over the past decade, states have been enacting domestic violence legislation, which often empowers judges to mandate batterers into intervention programs. To insure that these programs meet reasonable standards and that there is some homogeneity among programs, collateral laws mandating the development of batterer treatment standards are also common. The standards that have emerged have become a source of controversy. The current volume was developed in order to examine the issues and evidence, and to suggest some guidelines, if not for the standards themselves, then for the process that states might use in developing rational, useful standards, or in reevaluating and revising existing standards. To that end, this article offers a synthesis of the selections in this special volume and a suggested set of recommendations that committees might consider as they engage in the difficult processes of standard development or revision.     

Development of a Brief Motivational Enhancement Intervention for Intimate Partner Violence in Alcohol Treatment Settings

The current studies were a manual development study and a small pilot study of a 90-minute motivational enhancement style intervention to address intimate partner violence in alcohol-treatment-seeking men. Analyses of feedback provided during manual development suggest participants (a) liked the intervention, (b) reported behavior change intentions, and (c) found the feedback compelling. Findings from the pilot study suggest the intervention might be superior to referral only in increasing short-term help-seeking and lead to marginally significant enhancements in motivation and self-reported intimacy. Help-seeking and motivation findings were associated with medium-large to large effect sizes. At 3- and 6-month follow-up, both groups showed improvements in self-reported alcohol outcomes, anger, and verbal and physical aggression. These findings support further research on this intervention.     

Physical Abuse and Childhood Disability

SUMMARY

Several authors have hypothesized that children with disabilities are at increased risk for physical abuse. Such a finding would be consistent with current ecological models, which posit that certain child characteristics (e.g., behavior problems) in combination with other risk factors can lead to abuse. The paucity of research in this area makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions at this time. However, the few studies conducted suggest that child characteristics play a minor role in the etiology of abuse. Despite the lack of evidence indicating that children with disabilities are at significantly greater risk for abuse than their nondisabled peers, the presence of a disability raises some unique issues in the identification, assessment, and treatment of special needs children. This article reviews the literature linking abuse and disability as a risk factor. In addition, impediments encountered in the assessment and treatment of abused children with disabilities and their families are discussed and guidelines for practice are presented.     

Research Concerning Children of Battered Women

SUMMARY

Although the negative impact on children exposed to spouse abuse is well documented, little empirical research is available to guide clinical interventions. A brief review of the research literature describing these detrimental influences on children's adjustment is presented. Factors are discussed which mediate the consequences for children exposed to spouse abuse. These variables include those that are child-related as well as factors which are situational/contextual. Next, several theoretical/conceptual models are presented to assist with an understanding of how this impact on youngsters' psychological and emotional functioning takes place. These models suggest both direct and indirect mechanisms of influence. Finally, recommendations regarding clinical interventions are delineated based on these models as well as the available literature on the treatment of children of battered women. Suggestions related to appropriate types of treatment, including symptom-and mechanism-specific interventions, are made.     

Toward Evidence-Based Practice with Domestic Violence Perpetrators

This review examines the policy and practice of interventions with male perpetrators of domestic violence in light of the widely accepted principles of evidence-based practice. Thus far, these policies and practices have enjoyed immunity from the external, empirical accountability available through implementing the findings from evaluations research and other empirical practice analyses. This immunity is supported by a policy framework where, for example, the state certifying agencies may presumptively forbid methods of intervention, with no obligation to empirically assess their efficacy or safety, that contradict the approved model. Based on the review of findings from both explanatory research and interventions research, evidence-based recommendations for policy and program change are proposed.     

Cognitive Processing Therapy for Incarcerated Adolescents with PTSD

Summary

Despite increased recognition of trauma's association with conduct disorders, trauma treatment for the conduct-disordered population has been neglected. This study evaluated the effect of short-term, cognitive processing therapy (CPT) treatment on self-reported symptoms of trauma, such as anxiety, depression, intrusion, avoidance, and numbing. After treatment, the CPT group showed significant declines in these symptoms, while the wait-list control group did not.     

A Mind-Body Approach to Domestic Violence Perpetrator Treatment: Program Overview and Preliminary Outcomes

Conventional interventions with perpetrators of domestic violence are marginally effective. Given these results, researchers and practitioners are beginning to focus on identifying ways to improve domestic violence treatment outcomes. This article describes how a rural state-sponsored domestic violence offender program utilizes a treatment approach known as Mind-Body Bridging to help its clients overcome their abusive behaviors. Preliminary findings from an ongoing outcome study are also reported. According to these findings, the program has a high completion rate coupled with a low recidivism rate. Ninety-three percent (82 of 88) of the clients who have participated in this program completed the program, and just 7%?(6 of 82) of those who completed the program reoffended during the follow-up period, which ranged from 9 to 27 months.     

Legal and Ethical Issues in the Court-Mandated Treatment of Batterers

Summary

In the following article, we will explore the nature of the therapeutic relationship as it relates to batterers' treatment programs. We will consider the impact of obligations created by forces outside the relationship, such as those imposed by legal proceedings. We will discuss the concepts of confidentiality, privilege, and agency and their impact on the therapeutic relationship and the extent to which the therapists' understanding of the role these concepts play may be altered by court orders that impose treatment on a client/patient. Finally, we examine the issues and choices a therapist must make when engaging in court-ordered treatment of batterers, and the implications of those choices for both therapist and client; we will also suggest guidelines to help therapists sort through the often conflicting goals of therapy and the legal process.     

Correlates of Readiness to Change in Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a social problem associated with significant morbidity; however, victims do not always utilize treatment and resources. One's readiness to change might be one variable impacting his or her pursuit of treatment and other resources. This study investigated correlates of readiness to change, and readiness to change's impact on treatment utilization. Data were collected from 223 women residing in battered women's shelters. Correlational analyses find that generally victims with more psychopathology and distress, as well as more social support, were more ready to change. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, overall distress, and social support were the strongest predictors of readiness to change. Finally, victims higher in readiness to change were more likely to seek mental health treatment and other IPV-related services.     

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia in Veterans with Long-Standing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study

This uncontrolled pilot study assessed the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in veterans with long-standing posttraumatic stress disorder. Male veterans with current chronic insomnia and PTSD (n?=?8; M age = 58.6, SD?=?3.0; 87.5% African American, 12.5% European American; 87.5% Vietnam Veterans, 12.5% 1st Gulf War Veterans) reported a trauma related to their military service. Participants appeared for five weekly individual sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and completed one-week assessments of objective sleep (actigraphy) and subjective sleep (sleep diaries), the Insomnia Severity Index, and measures of functioning, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychological distress both before and after treatment. Paired t tests revealed significant posttreatment improvements for various subjective assessments of sleep patterns but actigraphy-defined sleep was unchanged. Measures of functioning, nightmares, and posttraumatic stress disorder severity were also unchanged at posttreatment. Preliminary results were encouraging in improving subjective perceptions of sleep in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder, warranting further study with more rigorous methodology.