Intimate partner violence: Perseverance vs Dropout from treatment programs targeting male batterers

Introduction: The Dropout phenomenon has been studied extensively in general psychotherapy and in more specific domains. Therapeutic programs for male batterers across Europe, United States or Canada also have their share of problems in their attempts to maintain users in treatment. The purpose of this study is to identify potential intrapsychic variables associated with dropout and completion of this kind of treatment.

Method: Fifty one male offenders enrolled in a group treatment for domestic violence took part in the study (23 who abandoned and 28 who completed). Before the start of therapy, they were surveyed using questionnaires and structured clinical interview to collect sociodemographic data and to assess specific psychological variables, namely emotional distress (BDI), impulsive behavior (BIS-11), early relationship with their parents (PBI), life events (LEDS) and alexithymia (TAS-20), the inability to experience and express subjective emotions.

Results: Correlational analysis showed that age, paternal parenting behaviors and the number of significant events reported in the past six months are the only variables correlated with treatment dropout. The younger the participants, the most likely they were to dropout of the group therapy. Moreover, men who completed treatment reported fewer difficulties in their life and less autonomy support by their father than men who prematurely terminated their therapy.

Discussion: The present findings pose a serious challenge for all actors involved in specifics treatment programs. Indeed, if all individuals who committed violent acts have the same intrapsychic variables, how do we predict, especially retain and motivate, the users likely to dropout?