The overall purpose of this research is to assess the effectiveness of gender specific and couple treatments for men and women in abusive relationships. Reduction of anger and physical aggression is of primary interest but many other factors associated with physical abuse are also important. More specifically, psychological aggression, communication problems, marital satisfaction, and personality problems (antisocial personality and borderline personality disorder) will be assessed as predictors of treatment outcome and relapse. Gender-specific treatments for both men and women and conjoint therapy will be compared to a treatment on demand wait-list control group. The treatment on demand subjects will be randomly assigned to either one of the two main therapy conditions at the end of the fourteen-week wait period. Follow-up evaluations will be conducted at one and two year post treatment. Process analyses will examine the types of therapeutic changes that may be unique to each therapy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH042488-03
Application #
3381616
Study Section
Criminal and Violent Behavior Research Review Committee (CVR)
Project Start
1991-09-30
Project End
1996-08-31
Budget Start
1993-09-01
Budget End
1994-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794
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Brown, P D; O'Leary, K D (2000) Therapeutic alliance: predicting continuance and success in group treatment for spouse abuse. J Consult Clin Psychol 68:340-5
Feldbau-Kohn, S; Heyman, R E; O'Leary, K D (1998) Major depressive disorder and depressive symptomatology as predictors of husband to wife physical aggression. Violence Vict 13:347-60
Pan, H S; Ehrensaft, M K; Heyman, R E et al. (1997) Evaluating domestic partner abuse in a family practice clinic. Fam Med 29:492-5
Cascardi, M; O'Leary, K D; Lawrence, E E et al. (1995) Characteristics of women physically abused by their spouses and who seek treatment regarding marital conflict. J Consult Clin Psychol 63:616-23