A trauma-based treatment intervention for domestic violence victims

Twenty-four participants from a local domestic violence center were selfselected into an individual therapy-plus-standard advocacy group (P/SA) or a standard advocacy (SA) group. The center’s advocacy staffed administered treatment for the SA group and the P/SA group. In addition to the SA treatment received by individuals in the P/SA group, there were also six licensed therapists who provided a manualized treatment incorporating CBT and EMDR. Symptoms of PTSD, depression, CSE, self-esteem, and coping skills were assessed.Additionally, saliva sample measurements were taken to examine the effect of treatment on the regulation of salivary cortisol. Results indicate that participants in the P/SA treatment condition experienced a significantly greater reduction in intrusive symptomatology and overall level of PTSD symptom severity, as well as a greater increase in CSE over time than those individuals in the SA condition. Moreover, changes in CSE were related to changes in psychological symptoms in individuals in the P/SA group from pretreatment to posttreatment and at follow-up.Almost no linear relationship between changes in CSE and other psychological variables in the SA group emerged.A minimal impact of treatment on coping skills was observed. There was a move towards a greater regulation of salivary cortisol at posttreatment in the P/SA group.

Conference

English

Amanda Midboe
Charles Benight
Alexandra Harding
S. Iwaishi
Lesley Johnson

Midboe, A., Benight, C., Harding, A., Iwaishi, S., & Johnson, L. (2002, November). A trauma-based treatment intervention for domestic violence victims. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 19th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL