The Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03609801
• Recruitment Status: Enrolling by invitation
• First Posted: August 1, 2018
• Last Update Posted: October 28, 2021
• Sponsor: Iowa State University
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Amie Zarling, Iowa State University

Study Description

Brief 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.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Domestic Violence	Behavioral: ACTV; Behavioral: The Duluth Model	Not Applicable

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Estimated Enrollment: 400 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Randomized Trial of the Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence
• Actual Study Start Date: June 29, 2018
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: December 31, 2021
• Estimated Study Completion Date: July 31, 2022

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: ACTV; Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced "ACTIVE" - is a new Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) 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 an innovative BIP 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: 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.
Active Comparator: The Duluth Model; The Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes is the most widely used BIP. 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's Men's Nonviolence Classes (The Duluth Model for short) help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children.	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.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Domestic assault recidivism [ Time Frame: One year time period following BIP ]
   Domestic assault charges (per criminal justice data)
2. Conflict Tactics Scale [ Time Frame: Start and end of BIP, then one year later ]
   Psychological (subscale min-max= 0-48), physical (subscale min-max= 0-72), and sexual (subscale min-max= 0-42) aggression (per victim reports); higher values = greater frequency of aggressive acts

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) [ Time Frame: Start and end of BIP ]
   Experiential avoidance (per offender self-report); min-max = 7-49; higher scores = greater experiential avoidance
2. Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised [ Time Frame: Start and end of BIP ]
   Sexist beliefs and attitudes; min-max = 21-147; higher scores = greater agreement with traditional gender roles and sexist beliefs

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: Male
• Gender Based Eligibility: Yes
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• English-speaking
• First time domestic assault offender
• Domestic assault must be against an intimate partner
• Must be on supervision/probation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participation in any previous ACT-based or Duluth Model programming

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Iowa

5th Judicial District Department of Corrections

Des Moines, Iowa, United States, 50314

Sponsors and Collaborators

Iowa State University

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Amie Zarling, Ph.D.; Iowa State University

More Information

• Responsible Party: Amie Zarling, Associate Professor, Iowa State University
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03609801
• Other Study ID Numbers: 18-007
• First Posted: August 1, 2018
• Last Update Posted: October 28, 2021
• Last Verified: October 2021

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: Undecided

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No