# Adjunctive Motivational Alcohol Intervention to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence

> **NIH VA I01** · VA BOSTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Veterans exposed to trauma are at elevated risk for perpetration of intimate partner violence
(IPV) and for the development of alcohol-related problems. Despite commonly found
associations between alcohol misuse and IPV, we are aware of no prior research in Veterans
examining the impact of adjunctive alcohol interventions for those receiving IPV intervention.
We propose to provide much-needed experimental data on the efficacy of a brief alcohol
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) pre-group intervention for Veterans receiving group
treatment for IPV perpetration. More specifically, we propose to examine whether those
assigned to receive this MET intervention, relative to those receiving a 4-session Alcohol
Education (AE) intervention or a standard treatment as usual (TAU) telephone monitoring
intervention, evidence greater reductions in alcohol use problems and IPV perpetration, and
increased help-seeking behavior for alcohol use problems. Participants will be {300} male
Veterans drawn from the Strength at Home IPV intervention program at three locations: the
Minneapolis VA Medical Center, the Phoenix VA Healthcare System, {and VA Ann Arbor
Healthcare System}. Participants will be randomized to their pre-group conditions and then
assigned to Strength at Home groups for IPV, and will receive referrals for substance use
treatment in the VA system or the community. Participants with clinically relevant alcohol use
problems, as determined by baseline screening measures, will complete assessments of
alcohol use, readiness to change, IPV and help-seeking behavior at baseline, post IPV
intervention group (3 months after completion of 4-session alcohol intervention), and four
separate 3-month follow-ups after the post-treatment assessment. Collateral partners will
participate via phone interview assessments for all of the IPV measures corresponding with the
assessment schedule for the male participants. Differences between conditions on the major
outcome variables involving alcohol use, IPV, help-seeking, and treatment engagement will be
examined with random-effects regression models using an intent-to-treat approach. Study
findings may assist in enhancing the efficacy of IPV interventions for the Veteran population to
help ensure the safety and well-being of Veterans, their relationship partners, and their families.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10744699
- **Project number:** 5I01CX002221-02
- **Recipient organization:** VA BOSTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** CASEY T TAFT
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-10-01 → 2027-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10744699

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10744699, Adjunctive Motivational Alcohol Intervention to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence (5I01CX002221-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10744699. Licensed CC0.

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