Evaluating the Clinical Utility and Client Acceptability of Video Intervention

Overview

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a common occurrence in the U.S. Victims of IPV are at an elevated risk of experiencing a variety of physical and mental health consequences, which frequently co-occur and act synergistically, placing victims at a higher risk for revictimization. Experts recommend that interventions for victims of IPV focus on helping victims attain more balanced emotions and behaviors, rather than treating specific nosologies. One transdiagnostic treatment, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), focused on helping individuals gain more balanced emotions and behaviors, has shown success in treating victims of IPV. However, the DBT for IPV treatment protocol is not without it's limitations. Specifically, clients may need additional exposure to the skills and concepts taught in the treatment. Yet, additional exposure to the skills facilitated though a therapist is difficult to do given the limited budgets for services for victims of IPV and the client provider gap. In order to address the client provider gap, increase exposure to the skills, and to increase skills acquisition and generalization, video intervention adjuncts (VIAs) have been developed to serve as treatment adjuncts for the DBT for IPV skills group. The objective of the current study is to conduct a randomized control trial examining the treatment utility and participant acceptability of the two-day DBT for IPV skills group plus the VIAs versus treatment as usual (the two-day DBT for IPV skills group without the VIAs). The following hypotheses will be examined: 1) those in the experimental VIA condition will experience treatment gains above and beyond those in the control (treatment as usual) condition; 2) those in the experimental VIA condition will view the VIAs as acceptable; and 3) those in the experimental VIA condition will report a greater frequency of using the skills than those in the control condition.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy as a treatment for IPV victims. Integrating the literature on efficacious cognitive behavioral treatments for disorders such as anxiety, depression, and other emotion regulation difficulties, Linehan developed the framework for DBT.1 In addition to these traditional CBT change-oriented techniques, which may leave clients feeling blamed for their problems or situation, Linehan incorporated radical acceptance. Radical acceptance emphasizes that self-compassion and acceptance (i.e. accepting how things really are rather than how they 'should' be) are necessary for making meaningful changes. When operating from a DBT framework the therapist's goal is to balance and synthesize acceptance and change-oriented strategies. Individuals who have experienced IPV often struggle to accept their situation (e.g. "But I love him," or "he said he will never do it again… although he said that before") and often receive blame from others for their situation (e.g. "Why wouldn't you just leave?"). Treating victims of IPV using a DBT framework allows victims to learn skills to change their situation in a non-judgmental and validating environment. In addition to providing victims with a validating environment, DBT aims to foster emotion regulation, enhance interpersonal effectiveness, improve self-validation, and increase distress tolerance. Mindfulness (i.e. present-moment awareness, acceptance, and participation without judgment) is core to these skills and to DBT. 2 Overview of the DBT for IPV Treatment Protocol. The DBT for IPV protocol is delivered in a group setting led by two co-therapists. Handouts adapted from the DBT Skills Training: Handouts and Worksheets are provided to clients in session, and homework is provided to help with the retention of the content.3 The DBT for IPV protocol can be broken down into five overarching themes or concepts: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and validation. These concepts form the foundation of the original 12-week closed model, the open group model and the intensive two-day group.4-6 The open group focuses on one module per session, where as the closed group and the two-day group start by introducing the intervention's two foundational topics: mindfulness and behavioral chains. Each module covers several concepts that link back to these two topics. These five modules were designed to address the psychological sequelae frequently experienced by victims of IPV, as well as to address the underlying mechanisms driving psychological distress among victims of IPV. In addition to reducing revictimization by addressing mental health problems, the DBT for IPV treatment paradigm provides clients with skills (i.e. interpersonal effectiveness and validation) to improve their relationships and reduce the occurrence of violence in their relationships. Treatment adjuncts. While DBT has demonstrated success in treating a multiple psychological issues, such as suicidal ideation, substance abuse, anger, emotional dysregulation and distress tolerance, it is a costly and time-intensive intervention.7-11 However, research has shown that treatment adjuncts, such as apps and websites, enhance treatment outcomes for a various psychological disorders.12 Technology disseminated interventions have been shown to effectively reduce symptoms of depression, PTSD and anxiety.13 In their review of mobile apps for the treatment of mental disorder, Ameringen and colleagues (2017) noted that employing technology-based interventions might reduce the need for in-person appointments with clinicians, particularly for clients who encounter geographical, time, or financial barriers.13 Further they concluded that apps improve treatment engagement with clinicians and provide opportunities for clinicians to reinforce skills and concepts they taught their clients in session.13 In addition to using treatment adjuncts to enhance treatment outcomes above and beyond treatment as usual, therapists can use treatment adjuncts such as video intervention adjuncts (VIAs), which deliver intervention content via multimedia, as a means of reducing therapist burden. Research Design and Rationale The objective of this study is to conduct a randomized control trial (RCT) examining the implementation of VIAs, developed for the purpose of enhancing skills generalization, acquisition, and (ultimately) treatment outcomes for DBT for IPV skills group members. Stratified randomization (controlling for those who are court mandated to treatment) will be used assigned participants to the experimental condition (the two-day skills group + the VIAs) or a control condition (the two-day skills group only). The primary outcomes are as follows: 1) investigate whether exposure to the VIA enhances treatment gains above and beyond treatment as usual; 2) assess participant acceptability of the VIAs; and 3) determine if participants in the experimental VIA condition will report a higher frequency of using the skills over the follow-up period than those in the control condition. Following the guidelines for developing and researching behavioral therapies, a Stage One Pilot Trial will be conducted, focusing on feasibility, participant acceptability, and treatment outcome.14 Participants. Following the Onken, Carroll, Shoham, Cuthbert, and Riddle (2014) guidelines for conducting clinical research, a Stage One Pilot Trial will be conducted.15 Stage 1-A is modification or refinement of an existing intervention, and Stage 1-B is feasibility and pilot testing. In this study, the existing intervention is the DBT for IPV skills workshop and the modification is the addition of the VIAs. Because Stage One trials recommend 15-30 subjects per group, the study will require a sample N of 81 (assuming an attrition rate of 35% as reported in Lee and Fruzzetti's 2017 study) to meet the goal N of 60. Screening and recruitment. Participants will include those who seek services through the THRIVE Center. Community recruitment efforts will include advertising and contacting connections at local community agencies and resource centers for victims of IPV (e.g. temporary protection order offices, Reno Police Department, District Attorney offices, etc.). Individuals interested in receiving treatment will complete intake measures prior to beginning treatment to establish a baseline, at a one-month follow-up, and three-month follow-up. Intervention. The DBT for IPV skills protocol consists of five major interconnected topics: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, validation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The two-day skills group will be conducted on weekends to increase the likelihood that participants will be able to attend. The skills group will be scheduled from 9am-4pm with a one-hour lunch break (lunch will be provided). Experimental condition. Participants assigned to the experimental condition will receive a text or email message approximately every two days with a link to a VIA hosted on the online research platform Qualtrics. Each VIA reviews one of the core skills that was taught as part of the two-day skills group. Participants will be asked questions regarding whether the VIA helped them better understand the concept/skill, whether they enjoyed the VIA, and three questions about the content (to serve as a manipulation check). A correct repose to two of the three manipulation check questions will qualify the individual as having completed that VIA. Control Condition. Participants assigned to the control condition will receive the two-day skills group without the VIAs.