Reductions in marital violence following treatment for alcohol dependence

The impact of an intensive, individually based, partial hospitalization treatment for alcohol dependence on alcohol use, marital violence, psychological abuse, and marital satisfaction among 24 heterosexual male patients and their partners was assessed. Patients received 5 to 6 days of substance abuse treatment in a partial hospital. Patient and partner assessments were conducted at baseline and 6- and 12-month follow-up. Results revealed decreased alcohol use in patients and significant declines in husband-to-wife marital violence and psychological abuse from baseline to 6- and 12-month follow-up. Men reported no significant changes in their marital satisfaction. Results also showed significant decreases in wife-to-husband violence from baseline to 6- and 12-month follow-up. Female partners reported a significant increase in marital satisfaction from baseline to 6- and 12-month follow-up. Overall, the study suggests that marital violence perpetrated by male patients and their partners declined following the males' substance abuse treatment. The clinical implications of the findings are discussed.