NCT03609801

The Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence

A Randomized Trial of the Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 799 (actual)
• Sponsor: Iowa State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of two interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). In most states, men who are convicted of domestic assault court-mandated to complete a Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) as part of their sentencing. The most commonly used BIP is based on The Duluth Model, which has been shown to decrease the recidivism of IPV offenders, but only marginally. The Duluth Model is a group intervention based on feminist theory and cognitive behavioral therapy. A new BIP called Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) has recently been developed by the PI as an alternative to Duluth. ACTV is currently being used statewide within the Department of Corrections (DOC) in Iowa. ACTV is a group intervention that utilizes acceptance and mindfulness techniques in addition to techniques from cognitive behavior therapy. The current study will use a randomized control trial to compare Duluth and ACTV, in order to assess the interventions' relative impact reducing IPV behaviors (physical aggression, psychological aggression, stalking, harassment, etc). Data on these outcomes will be collected via official criminal justice reports (i.e., criminal charges) as well as reports from victims. Other processes and outcomes of interest (attitudes toward women, emotion regulation, parenting behaviors, etc) will be collected from offenders.

Conditions

• Domestic Violence

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	ACTV	Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced "ACTIVE" - is a new intervention program for domestic violence offenders. ACTV was developed as a collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and the criminal justice system in the state of Iowa (Zarling, Lawrence, Oregno, 2017). It is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, \& Wilson, 1999), which is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. ACTV is innovative in two primary ways; first, ACTV applies the ACT model to the treatment of domestic violence, and second, ACTV is specifically designed for use in the correctional setting as part of criminal justice programming.
BEHAVIORAL	The Duluth Model	The Duluth Model is based on the premise that domestic abuse happens when men believe they have the right to authority over women who are their intimate partners. The Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-06-29
• Primary completion: 2022-05-31
• Completion: 2023-05-31
• First posted: 2018-08-01
• Last updated: 2024-12-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States