NCJ Number
178115
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 1999 Pages: 179-190
Date Published
1999
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study had two main objectives: the characterization of psychoactive substance abuse disorders in a naturalistic sample of men in domestic violence treatment; and clarification of the influence of substance abuse on the sociodemographic, personality, psychosocial, and abuse characteristics of dual- problem men.
Abstract
A total of 53 adult men who were attending domestic violence treatment were recruited. They were administered the Addiction Severity Index, the Conflict Tactics Scale, Structured Clinical Diagnostic Interview, the 16PF, and the Symptoms Checklist-90. Partners, when available, were asked to provide corroboration. A total of 63 percent of the men had a current diagnosis of psychoactive substance abuse or dependence, and 92.5 percent had a lifetime diagnosis. Of the former, the majority were diagnosed as multiply dependent on alcohol and other drugs. As the severity of the substance abuse increased, so too did the dangerousness and frequency of abusive behaviors. Moreover, dual-problem men reported more hostility, apprehension, frustration, suspiciousness, and past arrests than did their violence-only cohorts, as well as a history of multiple (unsuccessful) treatments for substance abuse. These findings suggest that the trend toward multiple drug complaints seen in other clinical milieus is also being confronted in conjugal violence settings. In addition to the greater therapeutic challenge such dual- problem men present, these findings indicate the need to investigate integrated treatment approaches to improve the outlook of men with both conjugal violence and multiple substance abuse problems. 3 tables and 40 references