Treatment of alcohol‐related violence: Integrating evidence from general violence and IPV treatment research

Abstract

The article discusses the various treatments of alcohol-related violence. The article also presents some integrating evidence from general violence and IPV treatment research from various studies. Rigorous evaluations of psychosocial treatments for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) are few and, overall, they show modest improvements at best. There is clearly scope for improvement both in developing the content of interventions for IPV perpetrators and in evaluating treatment outcomes. Given the prevalence of IPV and its mental and physical consequences for the victim, this topic is worthy of investment of resources. The development of alcohol and violence interventions, whether general violence or IPV specifically, arising from the literature described above, should include the following considerations. Assessment of the relationship between alcohol and violence for each individual is important, including style of drinking as well as overall consumption and the nature of violence. A focus on alcohol will only lead to effective outcomes for those whose alcohol use is a causal contributor to their violence. This is most likely to be the person involved in the emotionally driven type of IPV typical in situational couple conflict, rather than the coercive and controlling perpetrator. Alcohol treatment targets need to be clear, and it may be that alcohol intoxication rather than daily drinking is both the appropriate target and the appropriate outcome measure. Because alcohol is not on its own sufficient to cause violence, integrated programs may be the way forward. Complex interventions deriving from this approach should be rigorously evaluated to add to the knowledge base of what does and does not work in the treatment of alcohol-related IPV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)