The broad, long-term objective of the proposed project is to gain a better understanding of the factors which contribute to positive therapeutic change and treatment completion among domestic abusers in a cognitive-behavioral treatment program. Specifically, the effects of personality variables (antisocial and borderline characteristics), referral source (court or self-referred), social factors (interpersonal problems), the motivation of the patient (states of change), the relationship between the therapist and the patient (working alliance), and treatment adherence will be examined. Approximately 140 male domestic abusers and their partner will be assessed at three time periods, with additional ratings of the working alliance and homework compliance/treatment involvement conducted during the treatment phase. Multiple regression will be the primary data analytic method utilized to address three specific aims: (1) to determine factors that lead to the formation of a working alliance in treatment, and examine the interrelationships among these variables; (2) to investigate the influence of the working alliance and stages of change on treatment outcomes and dropout rates, and to uncover intervening factors in these relationships; and (3) to examine racial differences in working alliance formation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31MH012234-01
Application #
2772854
Study Section
Violence and Traumatic Stress Review Committee (VTS)
Program Officer
Altman, Fred
Project Start
1999-03-28
Project End
Budget Start
1998-09-28
Budget End
1999-09-27
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland Balt CO Campus
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21250
Walling, Sherry Muterspaugh; Suvak, Michael K; Howard, Jamie M et al. (2012) Race/ethnicity as a predictor of change in working alliance during cognitive behavioral therapy for intimate partner violence perpetrators. Psychotherapy (Chic) 49:180-9
Taft, Casey T; Murphy, Christopher M; King, Lynda A et al. (2005) Posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology among partners of men in treatment for relationship abuse. J Abnorm Psychol 114:259-68
Taft, Casey T; Murphy, Christopher M; Musser, Peter H et al. (2004) Personality, interpersonal, and motivational predictors of the working alliance in group cognitive-behavioral therapy for partner violent men. J Consult Clin Psychol 72:349-54
Taft, Casey T; Murphy, Christopher M; King, Daniel W et al. (2003) Process and treatment adherence factors in group cognitive-behavioral therapy for partner violent men. J Consult Clin Psychol 71:812-20