Effectiveness of Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy Intervention for Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

The Effect of Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy-Based Intervention Program on Psychosocial Well-Being of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

This interventional study aims to examine the impact of the Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy-Based Intervention Program on the psychosocial well-being of female victims of intimate partner violence.

The main questions to be answered are the following:

1. Is the Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy-Based Intervention Program effective on the interpersonal problems of female victims of intimate partner violence?
2. Is the Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy-Based Intervention Program effective on the mental well-being of female victims of intimate partner violence?

The study will include eight individual interviews using a variety of data collection forms.

World Health Organization, defines intimate partner violence as behaviours that cause physical, sexual or psychological harm in an intimate relationship. These behaviours include physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviours. One in three women will experience violence from a partner at some point in their lifetime. A strong correlation has been identified between women's exposure to violence and their susceptibility to mental health issues. In instances of prolonged violence, women tend to exhibit a range of emotional responses, including feelings of insecurity, loss of control, guilt, low self-esteem, helplessness, and hopelessness.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited psychotherapy developed in the 1970s for the treatment of depression. It focuses on interpersonal relationships and social support systems. The primary focus of IPT is on the resolution of existing interpersonal conflicts. IPT is delivered to different clinical populations across the lifespan in a range of flexible formats, including individual, couple, group, telephone sessions, and web-based applications in a variety of settings and doses. It has been demonstrated to be an efficacious intervention for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, particularly during the perinatal period. Despite the existence of numerous studies examining the impact of IPT across diverse populations, only one investigation has explored the efficacy of IPT in women who have experienced violence. In the aforementioned examination, no established treatment program for women victims of intimate partner violence has been identified in our country. Although intimate partner violence affects a significant proportion of the population, the paucity of studies focusing on interpersonal relationships in this context represents a gap in the existing literature.

Given the high prevalence of violence against women and the associated burden of physical, mental, social, and social problems, as well as the limitations of existing intervention programs designed to enhance the psychosocial well-being of women victims of intimate partner violence, it is imperative to develop novel intervention strategies that prioritize interpersonal relationships and aim to bolster the coping skills and social support systems of these individuals. In light of the aforementioned considerations, the objective of the present study is to examine the impact of an intervention program based on interpersonal relationship psychotherapy on the psychosocial well-being of women victims of intimate partner violence. This study will examine the psychosocial well-being, interpersonal problems and mental well-being levels of women victims of intimate partner violence.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Proficiency in the Turkish language, including the ability to speak and understand it.
• Exposure to any form of violence perpetrated by an intimate partner.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exposure to violence by an individual other than an intimate partner for the purpose of maintaining group homogeneity.
• Presence of sensory loss, including but not limited to hearing and vision.
• Physical injury and/or disability resulting from violence that precludes participation in the intervention program.
• Diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and other psychotic disorders.
• Presence of active self-destructive thoughts and/or plans.