The effect of adding biofeedback on heart rate variability to the treatment of intimate partner violence perpetrators with cognitive behavioral therapy.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Recruiting

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

- Recent perpetration of IPV (in the year prior to referral);
- Age: 18 or above.
- Subject is in possession of a smartphone running iOS 11.2.5 or higher, or
Android 6.0 or higher;
- Sex: Male;
- The relationship in which violence occurred is still on-going. Partners do
not necessarily need to be living together, but will need to be visiting each
other at least three times a week to be included. Because of the short duration
of the study, we want to be sure that there is enough time for the intervention
to be practised. Therapist will monitor whether the relationship goes on during
the study;
- Lack of self-control, as assessed during the intake procedure, is a risk
factor that is targeted in treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

- Treatment is mandatory / referral by a probation officer;
Sensitivity to crisis, liability to act out dangerously towards oneself or
others, requiring immediate intervention, e.g. suicidality, serious self-harm,
psychosis;
- Substance abuse of a severity that requires clinical treatment or which
therapists deem to need treatment before any other interventions take place;
- Referral is part of conditions imposed by a judge or a probation officer.
- Aggressive behavior occurring only outside of an intimate relationship;,
Additional exclusion criteria for participation in this study:
- Stalking behaviour as primary reason as referral for treatment;
- A restraining order issued by the mayor during the intervention period (this
prevents contact between partners);
- Any reason that leads to a subject not willing or not being able to wear a
chest strap, i.e. medical reasons, psychological conditions such as panic
disorder, or any reason of relevance to the subject;
- Having or entering a new relationship where IPV does not occur.

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>The main study parameter is the combined amount of reduction in the occurence<br /><br>of physical and psychological violence as measured with the equally named<br /><br>subscales of the Conflict Tactics Scale-2 (CTS-2). </p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>Secondary measures are the Anger Bodily Sensations Questionnaire (ASBQ) and<br /><br>HRV-values pre- and posttreatment. We will also analyze the effect of<br /><br>motivation on treatment outcome.</p><br>