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Assessment of the Efficacy of a Psychological Treatment for Women Victims of Violence by their Intimate Male Partner

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

María Crespo  and
María Arinero
María Crespo*
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
María Arinero
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to María Crespo L. Departamento de Psicología Clínica- Psicología Escolar. Universidad Complutense. Campus de Somosaguas. 28223 Madrid. (Spain). Phone: +34-913943079. Fax: +34-913943189. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

This study evaluates the long-term efficacy of a brief psychotherapeutic cognitive-behavioral program in group format for female victims of violence by their intimate partner. 53 battered women were randomized into one of two intervention programs: one including among others exposure technique (n = 28) and another one in which exposure procedures were substituted by communication skills training (n = 25). Additionally, both programs included: psycho-education, breath control, training to improve self-esteem, cognitive restructuring, problem-solving, planning pleasant activities, and relapse prevention. The treatment was carried out in 8 weekly sessions. Measures of posttraumatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, self-esteem and anger expression were analyzed at pre- and post-treatment, and at 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-months follow-ups. Results show a pronounced decrease of posttraumatic, depressive and anxiety symptoms, which maintained in the different measure moments, with scarce difference between the two programs. The results and their clinical implications are discussed.

El presente estudio evalúa la eficacia a largo plazo de un programa de intervención psicoterapéutica de enfoque cognitivo-conductual en formato grupal para mujeres víctimas de violencia en la pareja. Cincuenta y tres mujeres maltratadas fueron asignadas aleatoriamente a dos programas de intervención: uno que incluía, entre otras técnicas, exposición (n = 28) y otro en el que el procedimiento de exposición fue sustituido por entrenamiento en habilidades de comunicación (n = 25). Además, ambos programas incluían: psicoeducación, control de la respiración, entrenamiento en mejora de la autoestima, reestructuración cognitiva, entrenamiento en solución de problemas, planificación de actividades gratificantes y prevención de recaídas. La intervención se realizó en 8 sesiones semanales. Se evaluaron síntomas postraumáticos, de ansiedad, y depresión, y niveles de autoestima y expresión de la ira en el pre y el postratamiento, y en seguimientos al cabo de 1, 3, 6 y 12 meses. Los resultados mostraron un descenso pronunciado en los síntomas postraumáticos, depresivos y de ansiedad, que se mantuvo en los diferentes momentos de medida, y con escasas diferencias entre los dos programas. Se discuten los resultados y sus implicaciones clínicas.

Keywords

violence by intimate partnerposttraumatic stresspsychological treatmentefficacyviolencia en la parejaestrés postraumáticotratamiento psicológicoeficacia
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , November 2010 , pp. 849 - 863
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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