Substance Use Disorders in Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in a Forensic Setting

• NCJ Number: 230611
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2010 Pages: 430-440
• Author(s): Fleur L. Kraanen; Agnes Scholing; Paul M.G. Emmelkamp
• Date Published: June 2010
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored the prevalence of different substance use disorders in perpetrators of interpersonal violence (IPV), how often the IPV was committed under the influence of substances, and whether substance use IPV could be differentiated from non-substance use IPV.

Abstract

This study investigates the point prevalence of substance use disorders in 150 perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) in a forensic setting and compares participants with and without substance use disorders on demographic and offence-related variables. Furthermore, it investigates the frequency of IPV perpetrated under the influence of substances. Half the sample (50.0 percent) meets diagnostic criteria for at least one substance-related diagnosis. Significantly more IPV perpetrators without substance use disorders compared with IPV perpetrators with substance use disorders have children living at home and have abused their children. Relative to IPV perpetrators without substance use disorders, significantly more IPV perpetrators with substance-related disorders are found to be under the influence of substances at the time of the offence. Results highlight the importance of understanding the prevalence of substance use disorders in IPV perpetrators in forensic settings. Tables and references (Published Abstract)