Just-In-Time Text Message Intervention for Intimate Partner Violence

Overseen By Cynthia Stappenbeck, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Georgia State University

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

400 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) associated with alcohol consumption. It will test whether sending supportive text messages immediately after drinking can lower alcohol use and prevent IPV. Participants will be divided into two groups: one receiving an Alcohol Skills and Emotion Regulation Intervention and the other receiving supportive control messages. The trial seeks individuals aged 18-30 who drink alcohol at least twice a week, have experienced at least two recent heavy drinking episodes, are in a romantic relationship, and have a history of IPV in the past three months. Participants must be willing to receive text messages for 30 days. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new strategies for preventing IPV.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that the Alcohol Skills and Emotion Regulation Intervention helps people control their drinking and manage their emotions. This is crucial because alcohol can sometimes lead to issues like intimate partner violence (IPV). Although specific data on negative effects for this intervention is unavailable, it employs behavior techniques and text messages, which typically carry a lower risk of side effects compared to medications.

Other studies have found similar programs successful in reducing alcohol-related issues and improving emotional management. However, the safety of this intervention in this particular trial hasn't been fully detailed. Since this trial doesn't focus on drug approval, it emphasizes behavior change and messaging, suggesting it should be well-tolerated. Participants can expect the intervention to be safe, based on its nature and the lack of significant negative effects reported in related research. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Just-In-Time Text Message Intervention for Intimate Partner Violence because it introduces a novel approach combining alcohol skills training with emotion regulation techniques delivered via text messages. Unlike traditional in-person therapy sessions, this intervention offers real-time support and guidance, which can be more accessible and timely for individuals in need. The use of supportive control messages as an active comparator also helps in understanding the effectiveness of personalized interventions versus generic support. This approach could potentially provide a more immediate and convenient method to help individuals manage impulsive behaviors and emotional distress, making it a promising alternative to existing treatments.

What evidence suggests that this trial's interventions could be effective for reducing alcohol-facilitated intimate partner violence?

Research has shown that combining strategies to reduce alcohol use with skills for managing emotions can decrease heavy drinking and improve emotional control. This is crucial because alcohol misuse often links to intimate partner violence (IPV), especially when individuals struggle with emotion management. In this trial, participants in the intervention arm will receive the Alcohol Skills and Emotion Regulation Intervention, focusing on both alcohol use and emotion management to reduce these risks. Meanwhile, participants in the attention control arm will receive supportive control messages. Early findings suggest that this intervention could help at-risk individuals control their drinking and emotions, potentially lowering IPV incidents. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Cynthia Stappenbeck, PhD

Principal Investigator

Georgia State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults aged 18-30 who are currently in a romantic relationship, have a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration within the last three months, and frequently consume alcohol. Participants must be willing to receive text messages for 30 days and have had at least two heavy drinking episodes in the past month.

Inclusion Criteria

I have drunk alcohol twice a week for the last 3 months.

You have physically or emotionally harmed someone in the past 3 months.

Willing to provide cell phone number and carrier and receive text messages for 30 days

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive just-in-time text messaging intervention to reduce alcohol-facilitated IPV

6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in alcohol use and IPV perpetration

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Alcohol Skills and Emotion Regulation Intervention
• Attention Control

Trial Overview The study tests a just-in-time text messaging intervention aimed at reducing IPV when participants are likely to drink alcohol. It will assess if receiving specific types of messages before drinking can help lower both alcohol use and IPV incidents among men and women at risk.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will receive the RELATE intervention.

Group II: Attention Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will receive supportive control messages.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Georgia State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

71

Recruited

33,600+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 422 women experiencing intimate partner violence, the online interactive tool I-DECIDE did not significantly improve self-efficacy or reduce depressive symptoms compared to a standard information website over 12 months.

Despite the lack of measurable differences in outcomes, qualitative feedback suggested that participants found the I-DECIDE tool supportive and motivating, indicating potential value in further developing online interventions for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An online healthy relationship tool and safety decision aid for women experiencing intimate partner violence (I-DECIDE): a randomised controlled trial. Hegarty, K., Tarzia, L., Valpied, J., et al.[2020]

In a study of active duty service members, factors such as relationship satisfaction, community safety, and developmental aspects like years in the military were found to weaken the link between hazardous alcohol use and intimate partner violence (IPV).

The findings suggest that improving relationship functioning and community safety can help mitigate the risk of IPV associated with hazardous alcohol use, highlighting the importance of a developmental and relational perspective rather than just focusing on individual behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hazardous alcohol use and intimate partner violence in the military: understanding protective factors. Foran, HM., Heyman, RE., Smith Slep, AM., et al.[2012]

The psycho-behavioral intervention significantly reduced the recurrence of intimate partner violence among pregnant African-American women, with an odds ratio of 0.48, indicating nearly half the likelihood of experiencing further violence compared to those receiving usual care.

Women in the intervention group also had better birth outcomes, with a lower rate of very preterm births (1.5% vs. 6.6% in usual care) and a higher average gestational age (38.2 weeks vs. 36.9 weeks), suggesting that the intervention positively impacted both maternal safety and infant health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An integrated intervention to reduce intimate partner violence in pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Kiely, M., El-Mohandes, AAE., El-Khorazaty, MN., et al.[2022]

The study involved 197 women who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and found that difficulties in regulating positive emotions were linked to alcohol and drug misuse, particularly among Latina and White women, but not African American women.

Race/ethnicity played a significant role in how difficulties regulating positive emotions affected drug misuse, with a stronger association observed in White IPV-victimized women, suggesting the need for culturally sensitive interventions tailored to different racial and ethnic groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Alcohol and Drug Misuse Among IPV-Victimized Women: Exploring the Role of Difficulties Regulating Positive Emotions. Weiss, NH., Schick, MR., Contractor, AA., et al.[2022]

A study involving 239 patients in an urban emergency department found that a brief simulation video about intimate partner violence (IPV) significantly improved knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) scores by 22% compared to an 8% improvement in the control group.

The intervention was effective in a busy emergency department setting, suggesting that brief educational simulations can enhance understanding of IPV perpetration among patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brief intervention for perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV): simulation versus instruction alone. Ernst, AA., Weiss, SJ., Hobley, K., et al.[2015]

Among 178 men in treatment for alcohol use disorders, 42% reported perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV) at the start of the study, with a recurrence rate of 43% at 6 months and 36% at 12 months.

Key risk factors for IPV included baseline alcohol problem severity, antisocial personality traits, and relationship adjustment, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Longitudinal risk factors for intimate partner violence among men in treatment for alcohol use disorders. Taft, CT., O'Farrell, TJ., Doron-LaMarca, S., et al.[2015]

The study found that the prevalence of intimate partner violence was 10.7% among men and 14.6% among women, indicating that women experience higher rates of violence.

Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with episodes of violence, with 38.1% of violent incidents involving intoxicated men, suggesting that reducing alcohol consumption could be an effective strategy for preventing intimate partner violence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intimate partner violence and alcohol consumption. Zaleski, M., Pinsky, I., Laranjeira, R., et al.[2022]

In a longitudinal survey of 1635 couples, younger men, those without a high school diploma, unemployed men, and drinkers were more likely to not respond to follow-up interviews, indicating specific demographic factors that may affect survey participation.

For women, those aged 40-49 were twice as likely to be non-respondents compared to older women, while those with a history of childhood abuse were less likely to be non-respondents, suggesting complex relationships between personal history and survey engagement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characteristics of non-respondents in a US national longitudinal survey on drinking and intimate partner violence. Caetano, R., Ramisetty-Mikler, S., McGrath, C.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10919120/

Preliminary Efficacy of a Web-Based Alcohol and Emotion ... A web-based intervention combining alcohol reduction strategies with ER skills demonstrated initial efficacy at reducing heavy drinking and improving ER ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03037749

Over-arousal as a Mechanism Between Alcohol and ... The investigators believe that alcohol may be related to the increase in frequency and severity of IPV through a process of over-arousal that results from the ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871621005615

Advancing our understanding of the intersection between ... The goal of the current study was to examine cognitive emotion regulation strategies and alcohol and drug use problems within a dyadic framework.

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-aggression-2-2022-3d268

Just-In-Time Text Message Intervention for Intimate Partner ... Research shows that difficulties in regulating emotions are linked to alcohol misuse among women experiencing intimate partner violence, suggesting that ...

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/2/156

The Impact of Trauma and Substance Use on Emotion ... The impact of trauma and substance use on emotion regulation and intimate partner violence perpetration: implications for perpetrator programs.