The Men's Domestic Abuse Check-Up Engages Adult Men Concerned About Their Abusive Behavior and Alcohol or Drug Use

Stage 1B Study Motivating Substance Abusing Batterers to Seek Treatment.

This research is a stage 1b developmental trial evaluating an intervention called "The Men's Domestic Abuse Check-Up" with adult men abusing their intimate partners and also struggling with alcohol or drug use.

One hundred and forty adult men concerned about their substance use and behaviors toward intimate partners, recruited in Washington State, will be enrolled in the trial. Participants are recruited through print and radio ads. Following a baseline assessment, participants are then randomly assigned to receive one of two interventions:

• The experimental intervention is a two-session motivational enhancement treatment. A personalized feedback report, containing information from the participant's assessment as well as normative comparison data, is reviewed, with the counselor employing motivational interviewing strategies intended to impact study outcomes.
• The comparison condition involves an educational brochure focusing on the legal, health and behavioral effects of intimate partner violence, substance abuse, and HIV risky behaviors.

Following the two interventions, participants are reassessed at 1 week, 1 month, and 4 months following either intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age (18 years and older)
• gender (male)
• self-reported abusive behaviors
• concerned about alcohol or drug use

Exclusion Criteria:

• not fluent in English
• they have a thought disorder that precludes full participation
• they refuse to accept randomization to condition