Intimate partner violence results in a wide variety of devastating consequences, including physical and mental health problems, divorce, suicide, and spousal homicide. There is substantial evidence for the association between alcohol and partner violence. Recent research has shown that violence is 8-20 times more likely to occur on a drinking day than on a non-drinking day. In populations of individuals with alcohol problems, research has shown that extended interventions specifically designed to reduce alcohol use also produce decreases in partner violence. However, research suggests that treatment for intimate partner violence is relatively ineffective, particularly among individuals who use alcohol excessively. Batterer treatment outcome research has shown that individuals with alcohol problems are 16 times more likely to recidivate to violence after the intervention than individuals without alcohol problems. To date, methods for reducing alcohol use in male batterers have not been explored, and the extent to which treatment for hazardous alcohol use will ameliorate subsequent partner violence is currently unknown. We propose to conduct a randomized clinical trial in which 326 hazardous drinking men who are arrested and court-mandated to attend batterers' intervention groups will be randomly assigned to: (a) a brief, motivationally focused alcohol intervention (adapted from the Motivational Enhancement Therapy Manual used in Project MATCH) plus standard batterers' intervention or (b) standard batterers' intervention alone. Batterers' alcohol use, problems arising from alcohol use, and partner physical and psychological aggression will be assessed at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Batterers' relationship partners will be included in the study to provide corroborating reports of alcohol use and violence, and arrest records and protection orders will be obtained as further indices of violence recidivism. We hypothesize that adding a brief alcohol treatment to standard batterers' intervention will result in less alcohol use and partner violence at all follow-up assessments, relative to standard batterers' intervention alone. If it is effective, this brief alcohol treatment can be readily integrated into existing batterer intervention programs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AA014193-01
Application #
6596414
Study Section
Health Services Research Review Subcommittee (AA)
Project Start
2003-07-01
Project End
2008-06-30
Budget Start
2003-07-01
Budget End
2004-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$340,778
Indirect Cost
Name
Butler Hospital (Providence, RI)
Department
Type
DUNS #
069847804
City
Providence
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02906
Brem, Meagan J; Shorey, Ryan C; Rothman, Emily F et al. (2018) Trait Jealousy Moderates the Relationship Between Alcohol Problems and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in Batterer Intervention Programs. Violence Against Women 24:1132-1148
Stuart, Gregory L; McGeary, John; Shorey, Ryan C et al. (2016) Genetics moderate alcohol and intimate partner violence treatment outcomes in a randomized controlled trial of hazardous drinking men in batterer intervention programs: A preliminary investigation. J Consult Clin Psychol 84:592-8
Brasfield, Hope; Morean, Meghan E; Febres, Jeniimarie et al. (2016) Alcohol Use, Alcohol-Related Outcome Expectancies, and Partner Aggression Among Males Court-Mandated to Batterer Intervention Programs: A Brief Report. J Interpers Violence 31:245-56
Stuart, Gregory L; McGeary, John E; Shorey, Ryan C et al. (2014) Genetic associations with intimate partner violence in a sample of hazardous drinking men in batterer intervention programs. Violence Against Women 20:385-400
Stuart, Gregory L; McGeary, John E; Shorey, Ryan C et al. (2014) Further investigation of genetics and intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women 20:420-6
Stuart, Gregory L; Shorey, Ryan C; Moore, Todd M et al. (2013) Randomized clinical trial examining the incremental efficacy of a 90-minute motivational alcohol intervention as an adjunct to standard batterer intervention for men. Addiction 108:1376-84
Temple, Jeff R; Stuart, Gregory L; O'Farrell, Timothy J (2009) Prevention of intimate partner violence in substance-using populations. Subst Use Misuse 44:1318-28
Stuart, Gregory L; O'Farrell, Timothy J; Leonard, Kenneth et al. (2009) Examining the interface between substance misuse and intimate partner violence. Subst Abuse 3:25-9
Stuart, Gregory L; O'Farrell, Timothy J; Temple, Jeff R (2009) Review of the association between treatment for substance misuse and reductions in intimate partner violence. Subst Use Misuse 44:1298-317
Stuart, Gregory L; Temple, Jeff R; Follansbee, Katherine W et al. (2008) The role of drug use in a conceptual model of intimate partner violence in men and women arrested for domestic violence. Psychol Addict Behav 22:12-24

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