Strength at Home Program for Domestic Violence

Overseen By Casey Taft, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Boston University

Disqualifiers: Active psychosis, Suicidal ideation, Incarceration, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 12 months

800 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Intimate partner violence (IPV), specifically physical and psychological aggression toward an intimate partner, represents a public health crisis that affects millions of Americans each year. There currently exists very little evidence from randomized controlled trials for the effectiveness of abuser intervention programs designed to prevent and end perpetration of IPV in the general population. This is troubling considering that approximately half a million men and women are court-mandated to these programs each year. The investigators will conduct a randomized control trial (RCT) investigating the efficacy of the Strength at Home (SAH) intervention in reducing intimate partner violence (IPV). The overarching aim of this study is to test the efficacy of SAH with court-involved-partner-violent men through an RCT comparing those who receive SAH with those who receive other standard IPV interventions offered in the state of Washington (treatment as usual- TAU). The specific aims are: 1.1: Compare the frequency of physical and psychological IPV, the primary outcomes of interest, across conditions as reported by the male participants and their intimate partners across Time 1 (baseline) and four 3-month follow ups (Times 2-5). It is expected that greater reductions in IPV frequencies will be evidenced in SAH than TAU over the course of the year. 1.2: Compare symptoms of PTSD, alexithymia, and alcohol use problems across conditions and assessment time points as reported by the male participants. It is expected that greater reductions in these symptoms will be evidenced in SAH than TAU over the course of the year. 1.3: Compare treatment satisfaction across conditions as reported by the male participants across the four 3-month follow ups (Times 2-5). It is expected that treatment satisfaction will be higher in SAH than TAU.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Strength at Home (SAH) for domestic violence?

Research shows that the Strength at Home (SAH) program, a trauma-informed group treatment, has been implemented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) among veterans. Previous studies have provided evidence of SAH's effectiveness in reducing IPV, particularly in military and veteran populations. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What makes the Strength at Home treatment unique for intimate partner violence?

Strength at Home is unique because it is a trauma-informed, cognitive-behavioral group treatment specifically designed for military veterans and service members to reduce intimate partner violence. It focuses on addressing trauma and uses a social information processing model, which is not commonly found in traditional IPV treatments. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

Research Team

Casey Taft, PhD

Principal Investigator

BU School of Medicine and National Center for PTSD

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for men court-referred for intimate partner violence (IPV) intervention in Washington state who consent to partner contact. It also includes women who are or were partners involved in IPV incidents with these men.

Inclusion Criteria

I agree to let the research team contact my partner(s) for the study.

I have been referred by a court for IPV intervention in Washington state.

I have been involved in an IPV incident with someone who was court-referred.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either the Strength at Home (SAH) intervention or Treatment as Usual (TAU) for intimate partner violence

12 months

Baseline and 4 follow-up assessments at 3-month intervals

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Strength at Home (SAH)
• Treatment as usual for IPV

Trial Overview The study tests the Strength at Home (SAH) program against standard IPV interventions (TAU). Participants will be randomly assigned to either SAH or TAU and followed up every three months to assess IPV frequency, PTSD symptoms, alexithymia, alcohol use problems, and treatment satisfaction.

Participant Groups

Group I: Strength at Home (SAH) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized into this arm with receive a trauma-informed intimate partner violence (IPV) intervention program.

Group II: Treatment as Usual (TAU) Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants randomized into this arm with receive a standard IPV intervention program in the state of Washington.

Strength at Home (SAH) is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Strength at Home for:

• Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) prevention and treatment

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Boston University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

494

Recruited

9,998,000+

Office of Crime Victims Advocacy - Washington State Department of Commerce

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

800+

Findings from Research

The Strength at Home (SAH) program, a 12-week cognitive-behavioral treatment for veterans, significantly reduced reported instances of physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) among 51 veterans who completed the program.

Veterans expressed high satisfaction with the SAH program, but there were challenges in timely implementation, with an average delay of about 136 days from training to the start of group sessions, indicating a need for improved support and reduced barriers to implementation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

National implementation of a trauma-informed intervention for intimate partner violence in the Department of Veterans Affairs: first year outcomes. Creech, SK., Benzer, JK., Ebalu, T., et al.[2019]

The Strength at Home (SAH) intervention, implemented in the VA health system, significantly reduced both physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) among 1754 veterans, indicating its effectiveness in addressing aggression in relationships.

Participants also experienced reductions in PTSD symptoms and alcohol misuse, suggesting that SAH not only helps with IPV but also improves overall mental health and substance use, making it a valuable program for integration into routine healthcare.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of the Strength at Home Group Intervention for Intimate Partner Violence in the Veterans Affairs Health System. Creech, SK., Benzer, JK., Bruce, L., et al.[2023]

A study involving 70 participants evaluated the effectiveness of on-site transitional housing and community-based rapid rehousing for individuals made homeless due to intimate partner violence (IPV), showing significant improvements in both IPV revictimization and housing stability after 6 months (P < .001).

The findings suggest that providing safe and affordable housing through IPV service providers not only enhances safety for survivors but also serves as an effective prevention strategy against future IPV incidents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safe and Stable Housing for Intimate Partner Violence Survivors, Maryland, 2019‒2020. Decker, MR., Grace, KT., Holliday, CN., et al.[2023]

A scoping review of 43 studies on intimate partner violence (IPV) assistance programs in healthcare settings found that programs offering a single type of active assistance, such as counseling or advocacy, were associated with positive outcomes in 77.8% of cases.

Programs delivered by counselors or case managers and those consisting of more than five sessions showed even higher effectiveness, with 100% of such studies reporting positive results, highlighting the importance of structured and supportive interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A scoping review of intimate partner violence assistance programmes within health care settings. Sprague, S., Scott, T., Garibaldi, A., et al.[2022]

The Strength at Home Men's Program (SAH-M) significantly reduced both physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) among 135 male veterans/service members compared to those receiving enhanced treatment as usual, with notable improvements observed at 3 and 6 months post-intervention.

SAH-M specifically decreased controlling behaviors, such as isolation and monitoring of partners, indicating its effectiveness in addressing various forms of psychological IPV.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of the Strength at Home Men's Program for Partner Violence in Military Veterans. Taft, CT., Macdonald, A., Creech, SK., et al.[2022]

The Strength at Home (SAH) intervention significantly reduced physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) among 23 court-mandated men, with improvements maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.

Participants reported high satisfaction with the SAH program, which also showed effectiveness in addressing related issues like PTSD symptoms and alcohol use problems, suggesting its potential as a comprehensive intervention for IPV in civilian populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examining strength at home for preventing intimate partner violence in civilians. Taft, CT., Franz, MR., Cole, HE., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

National implementation of a trauma-informed intervention for intimate partner violence in the Department of Veterans Affairs: first year outcomes. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of the Strength at Home Group Intervention for Intimate Partner Violence in the Veterans Affairs Health System. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safe and Stable Housing for Intimate Partner Violence Survivors, Maryland, 2019‒2020. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A scoping review of intimate partner violence assistance programmes within health care settings. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of the Strength at Home Men's Program for Partner Violence in Military Veterans. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examining strength at home for preventing intimate partner violence in civilians. [2022]