Examining trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in court-mandated intimate partner violence perpetrators.

Abstract

There is a dearth of empirical literature characterizing the various forms of trauma experienced by men court mandated to intervention for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. We investigated the potentially traumatic events (PTEs) experienced by men (N = 217) court mandated to enroll in a 41-week group IPV perpetrator program, as well as the relationships between PTEs, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and IPV. Findings indicated that 94% of participants reported experiencing at least 1 PTE in their lifetime, and participants experienced an average of over 6 out of 14 types of PTEs. A significant association was found between the number of PTEs experienced and frequency of self-reported perpetration of physical and psychological IPV. PTSD symptoms were also related to both forms of IPV perpetration and mediated the relationship between experiencing PTEs and psychological IPV perpetration. Our findings have implications for understanding how trauma and PTSD symptoms may increase risk for IPV and for developing trauma-informed interventions for this population.

ICD-11 complex PTSD among Israeli male perpetrators of intimate partner violence: Construct validity and risk factors

“…This study was performed with a unique clinical population for the first time: male patients mandated as a result of IPV. The current findings identified a high prevalence of traumatic events and high rates of PTSD symptoms consistent with findings of other studies (Maguire et al, 2015;Taft, Murphy, & Creech, 2016;Taft, Schumm, Marshall, Panuzio, & Holtzworth-Munroe, 2008), but in addition identified the presence of DSO symptoms which were systematically related to PTSD symptoms as predicted by the CPTSD model. The low CPTSD diagnosis rate was surprising, especially compared to the rates of PTSD based on the dichotomous criteria of the ICD-11.…”

“…The low CPTSD diagnosis rate was surprising, especially compared to the rates of PTSD based on the dichotomous criteria of the ICD-11. The percent endorsement of items in the Affective Dysregulation construct was relatively high and consistent with previous research in this population (Maguire et al, 2015). The guilt item in the Negative Self-Concept construct was also high.…”

“…No studies have specifically focused on the traumatic experiences of men and, more particularly, men who have been identified as perpetrators of violence. Studies indicate that these men have usually experienced traumatic events at a greater frequency than other men in the community (Maguire et al, 2015), specifically exposure to violence by their parents (Delsol & Margolin, 2004). They also experience PTSD at higher rates than do community samples (Delsol & Margolin, 2004;Hoyt et al, 2012).…”

How Do Men in Treatment for Intimate Partner Violence Experience Parenting their Young Child? A Descriptive Phenomenological Analysis

“…They received integrative violence-focused psychotherapy that used a trauma-informed, cognitive-behavioral approach, with an emphasis on how violent behaviors may be linked to difficulties with emotion-regulation, mentalization, attachment, and to dysfunctional schemata on relationships and gender (Askeland and Råkil 2017). The emphasis on trauma-work stems from research that has demonstrated the relatively high presence of early relational trauma (Stover 2013) and PTSD (Maguire et al 2015) in men in treatment for intimate partner violence. Psychotherapy was provided by clinical psychologists working on a full-time basis with adults who use IPV.…”

Indirect effects of PTSD and complex PTSD in the relationship of polyvictimization with intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration among men in mandated treatment

“…Consistent with findings regarding lifetime trauma history, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to be related to men's IPV perpetration (Maguire et al, 2015;Taft, Murphy, & Creech, 2016;Taft et al, 2008). PTSD has been hypothesized, but not empirically demonstrated, to be a mediator of the association between past exposure to traumatic events and IPV perpetration.…”