Citation

Hamberger LK, Hastings JE. J. Fam. Violence 1988; 3(2): 121-130.

Affiliation

Southeastern Family Practice Center, Tallent Hall, P.O. Box 598, 53141 Kenosha, Wisconsin; Zablocki V.A. Medical Center, 53295 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF00994029

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present study evaluated a 15-week cognitive-behavioral skills training program for male spouse abusers. Results showed dramatic decreases in occurrence of violent behaviors after treatment, and up to 1-year follow-up in subjects (n =32)completing the intervention. Furthermore, compared to program dropouts (n =36),completers showed a lower rate of physical violence recividism over the 1-year follow-up period. However, there was evidence of continued psychological abuse among completers in some cases (as corroborated independently by the victim/partner). Changes measured by psychometric assessment indicated decreased dysphoria. No change in basic personality, characterized primarily by disorder, was found. The latter findings was interpreted to partly account for continued psychological abuse. Implications for refining programs to address psychological abuse and to develop mechanisms to reduce attrition are discussed.