PTSD, Anger, and Trauma-Informed Intimate Partner Violence Prevention

Opinion StatementDespite a large and growing literature showing high rates of prior trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among those who engage in intimate partner violence (IPV), there has been a lack of trauma-informed interventions developed for this population. This review discusses the latest background research and clinical developments in the area of trauma-informed IPV intervention. We discuss how recent evidence points to the relevance of trauma-related social information processing biases and anger in the etiology of IPV perpetration, and a promising intervention that targets social information processing deficits in preventing and ending IPV. Future areas of research are needed to better explicate the mechanisms responsible for the success of these interventions, as well as replication of research findings across trauma-exposed populations and trauma types.
Source: Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research