Strength at Home Program for Domestic Violence

Enrolling by invitation at 1 trial location

Overseen By Casey T Taft, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Boston University

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12-20 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine which program more effectively reduces intimate partner violence (IPV)—the Strength at Home (SAH) program or the usual treatment (TAU). SAH is a trauma-informed program lasting 12 weeks, while TAU is a state-approved program lasting 20 weeks. The trial will assess the impact of these programs on physical and psychological IPV, PTSD symptoms, and alcohol use. Men court-mandated to attend intervention programs in Rhode Island, along with their partners, qualify for this trial. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to important research that could enhance intervention programs for 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 Strength at Home (SAH) program, a trauma-informed approach, effectively reduces intimate partner violence (IPV). Studies have found that participants generally respond well to this program, reporting improvements in violence-related issues and finding it helpful for dealing with trauma. Importantly, these studies have not reported significant negative effects or side effects, suggesting that the SAH program is safe for those interested in joining.

The Treatment as Usual (TAU) program is a standard, state-approved method for addressing IPV. It is widely used and considered a typical approach for IPV intervention. Although specific safety details for TAU are not provided in these sources, its approval and common use suggest it is generally safe for participants.

Overall, both programs aim to offer safe environments for addressing and reducing IPV through structured methods. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

The Strength at Home (SAH) program is unique because it is a trauma-informed, 12-week intervention designed specifically for intimate partner violence (IPV). Unlike the standard Treatment as Usual (TAU), which is a lengthier 20-week program, SAH aims to address the issues more efficiently by focusing on trauma, which is often a root cause of IPV. Researchers are excited about SAH because it offers a potentially quicker, more targeted approach to IPV intervention, which could lead to faster and more sustainable outcomes for participants.

What evidence suggests that this trial's programs could be effective for reducing intimate partner violence?

Research has shown that the Strength at Home (SAH) program, which participants in this trial may receive, helps reduce intimate partner violence (IPV). Participants in SAH reported experiencing less physical and emotional IPV than those who did not participate. One study found that SAH led to a noticeable drop in IPV behaviors, according to both the participants and their partners. Another study highlighted that SAH's approach, which focuses on understanding trauma and improving thinking patterns, helped enhance communication and conflict resolution skills. Overall, evidence suggests that SAH can reduce IPV and improve relationships. The trial will also compare SAH to Treatment as Usual (TAU), a 20-week state-approved IPV intervention program, to evaluate their relative effectiveness. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Casey T Taft, PhD

Principal Investigator

CABU School Medicine, Psychiatry

Lindsay Orchowski, PhD

Principal Investigator

Rhode Island Hospital

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for men mandated by the Rhode Island court to undergo intervention for intimate partner violence (IPV) and their partners. There are no specific exclusion criteria mentioned, so it appears open to all individuals who meet the inclusion terms.

Inclusion Criteria

I am mandated by court to attend an IPV program in Rhode Island.

Exclusion Criteria

None

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are randomized to either the Strength at Home (SAH) program for 12 weeks or the Treatment as Usual (TAU) program for 20 weeks

12-20 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes such as IPV, PTSD symptoms, and treatment satisfaction every three months post-treatment through month 12

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• SAH
• TAU

Trial Overview The study compares two programs aimed at reducing IPV: 'Strength at Home' (SAH), a specialized program, against a standard state-approved intervention called 'Treatment as Usual' (TAU). It measures physical and psychological IPV effects, PTSD symptoms, emotional awareness issues, alcohol use problems, and satisfaction with treatment over time.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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

SAH isa trauma-informed 12-week intimate partner violence (IPV) intervention program.

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

TAU is a 20-week state-approved IPV intervention program.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Boston University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

494

Recruited

9,998,000+

Rhode Island Hospital

Collaborator

Trials

275

Recruited

71,400+

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials

592

Recruited

27,110,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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 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]

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]

Telehealth programs designed to support family members of individuals with traumatic brain injury have shown positive outcomes in 15 studies, indicating their effectiveness and feasibility as a support method.

Despite the promising results, most studies lacked blinded assessors, highlighting the need for further research to compare telehealth with traditional face-to-face interventions and to enhance clinical decision-making.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supporting family members of people with traumatic brain injury using telehealth: a systematic review. Rietdijk, R., Togher, L., Power, E.[2019]

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]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8591632/

Examining Strength at Home for Preventing Intimate ... The Strength at Home (SAH) intervention, a trauma-informed, cognitive-behavioral intervention for intimate partner violence (IPV) was examined in a sample ...

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802385

Strength at Home Group Intervention for Intimate Partner ... Question Is the Strength at Home (SAH) intervention associated with reductions in intimate partner violence (IPV) in an implementation ...

3. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/12/1127

Examining Virtual Delivery of Strength at Home for Intimate ... IPV was assessed using questions derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NIPSVS) ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10015307/

Evaluation of the Strength at Home Group Intervention for ... Is the Strength at Home (SAH) intervention associated with reductions in intimate partner violence (IPV) in an implementation evaluation at 73 ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06526247?cond=alcohol&aggFilters=status%3Arec

Evaluating Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence Use ... ... 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 ...

6. strengthathome.org strengthathome.org/strength-at-home-resources/

Strength at Home Resources Contact the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) Coordinator at your local medical center to learn more. Click here for contact information for ...

7. ajpmonline.org ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(23)00343-4/fulltext

Promoting the Use of Evidence-Based Practice for Those ... Intimate partner violence (IPV), typically defined as physical, sexual, or psychological aggression toward a relationship partner, including ...