Domestic ViolenceNCT03609801
The Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence
A study testing ACTV and The Duluth Model in people with Domestic Violence, run by Iowa State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of two interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). In most states, men who are convicted of domestic assault court-mandated to complete a Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) as part of their sentencing. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, men only
- Conditions the study is for
- Domestic Violence
- What is being tested?
- ACTV and The Duluth Model
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 799 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 29 Jun 2018to 31 May 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Men only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- English-speaking
- First time domestic assault offender
- Domestic assault must be against an intimate partner
- Must be on supervision/probation
Who cannot join
- Participation in any previous ACT-based or Duluth Model programming
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
5th Judicial District Department of Corrections
Des Moines, Iowa, 50314
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Trial of the Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence
The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of two interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). In most states, men who are convicted of domestic assault court-mandated to complete a Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) as part of their sentencing. The most commonly used BIP is based on The Duluth Model, which has been shown to decrease the recidivism of IPV offenders, but only marginally. The Duluth Model is a group intervention based on feminist theory and cognitive behavioral therapy. A new BIP called Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) has recently been developed by the PI as an alternative to Duluth. ACTV is currently being used statewide within the Department of Corrections (DOC) in Iowa. ACTV is a group intervention that utilizes acceptance and mindfulness techniques in addition to techniques from cognitive behavior therapy. The current study will use a randomized control trial to compare Duluth and ACTV, in order to assess the interventions' relative impact reducing IPV behaviors (physical aggression, psychological aggression, stalking, harassment, etc). Data on these outcomes will be collected via official criminal justice reports (i.e., criminal charges) as well as reports from victims. Other processes and outcomes of interest (attitudes toward women, emotion regulation, parenting behaviors, etc) will be collected from offenders.
- Conditions
- Domestic Violence
- Being tested
- ACTV, The Duluth Model
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ACTVBehavioural
Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced "ACTIVE" - is a new intervention program for domestic violence offenders. ACTV was developed as a collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and the criminal justice system in the state of Iowa (Zarling, Lawrence, Oregno, 2017). It is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, \& Wilson, 1999), which is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. ACTV is innovative in two primary ways; first, ACTV applies the ACT model to the treatment of domestic violence, and second, ACTV is specifically designed for use in the correctional setting as part of criminal justice programming.
The Duluth ModelBehavioural
The Duluth Model is based on the premise that domestic abuse happens when men believe they have the right to authority over women who are their intimate partners. The Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ACTV | Experimental | Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced "ACTIVE" - is a new Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) for domestic violence offenders. ACTV was developed as a collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and the criminal justice system in the state of Iowa (Zarling, Lawrence, Oregno, 2017). It is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, \& Wilson, 1999), which is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. ACTV is an innovative BIP in two primary ways; first, ACTV applies the ACT model to the treatment of domestic violence, and second, ACTV is specifically designed for use in the correctional setting as part of criminal justice programming. Receives: Behavioral: ACTV |
| The Duluth Model | Active comparator | The Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes is the most widely used BIP. The Duluth Model is based on the premise that domestic abuse happens when men believe they have the right to authority over women who are their intimate partners. The Duluth Model's Men's Nonviolence Classes (The Duluth Model for short) help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children. Receives: Behavioral: The Duluth Model |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Domestic assault recidivism
Domestic assault charges (per criminal justice data)
Measured: One year time period following BIP
Conflict Tactics Scale
Psychological (subscale min-max= 0-48), physical (subscale min-max= 0-72), and sexual (subscale min-max= 0-42) aggression (per victim reports); higher values = greater frequency of aggressive acts
Measured: Start and end of BIP, then one year later
Secondary outcomes (2)
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II)
Experiential avoidance (per offender self-report); min-max = 7-49; higher scores = greater experiential avoidance
Measured: Start and end of BIP
Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised
Sexist beliefs and attitudes; min-max = 21-147; higher scores = greater agreement with traditional gender roles and sexist beliefs
Measured: Start and end of BIP
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Aug 2018
- Study start29 Jun 2018
- Primary completion31 May 2022
- Study completion31 May 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Domestic ViolenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 799 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Iowa State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Amie Zarling, Iowa State University
- Investigators
- Amie Zarling, Ph.D., Principal investigator, Iowa State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03609801
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 18-007
- Status last verified
- Dec 2024
- First submitted
- 25 Jul 2018
- Last updated
- 30 Dec 2024
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Zarling A, Berta M, Weems CF. Changes in Sexist Beliefs and Psychological Flexibility Among Men Court-Mandated to Domestic Violence Programs. J Interpers Violence. 2025 Sep 24:8862605251368854. doi: 10.1177/08862605251368854. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 40990942Zarling A, Russell D. A randomized clinical trial of acceptance and commitment therapy and the Duluth Model classes for men court-mandated to a domestic violence program. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2022 Apr;90(4):326-338. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000722.
PubMed 35446078
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Dec 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Trial of the Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03609801
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 18-007
- Conditions
- Domestic Violence
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 799 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Iowa State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 29 Jun 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 May 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 May 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Aug 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of two interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). In most states, men who are convicted of domestic assault court-mandated to complete a Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) as part of their sentencing. The most commonly used BIP is based on The Duluth Model, which has been shown to decrease the recidivism of IPV offenders, but only marginally. The Duluth Model is a group intervention based on feminist theory and cognitive behavioral therapy. A new BIP called Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) has recently been developed by the PI as an alternative to Duluth. ACTV is currently being used statewide within the Department of Corrections (DOC) in Iowa. ACTV is a group intervention that utilizes acceptance and mindfulness techniques in addition to techniques from cognitive behavior therapy. The current study will use a randomized control trial to compare Duluth and ACTV, in order to assess the interventions' relative impact reducing IPV behaviors (physical aggression, psychological aggression, stalking, harassment, etc). Data on these outcomes will be collected via official criminal justice reports (i.e., criminal charges) as well as reports from victims. Other processes and outcomes of interest (attitudes toward women, emotion regulation, parenting behaviors, etc) will be collected from offenders.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ACTV | Experimental | Behavioral: ACTVAchieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced "ACTIVE" - is a new Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) for domestic violence offenders. ACTV was developed as a collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and the criminal justice system in the state of Iowa (Zarling, Lawrence, Oregno, 2017). It is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, \& Wilson, 1999), which is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. ACTV is an innovative BIP in two primary ways; first, ACTV applies the ACT model to the treatment of domestic violence, and second, ACTV is specifically designed for use in the correctional setting as part of criminal justice programming. |
| The Duluth Model | Active comparator | Behavioral: The Duluth ModelThe Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes is the most widely used BIP. The Duluth Model is based on the premise that domestic abuse happens when men believe they have the right to authority over women who are their intimate partners. The Duluth Model's Men's Nonviolence Classes (The Duluth Model for short) help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- English-speaking
- First time domestic assault offender
- Domestic assault must be against an intimate partner
- Must be on supervision/probation
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Participation in any previous ACT-based or Duluth Model programming
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ACTVAchieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced "ACTIVE" - is a new intervention program for domestic violence offenders. ACTV was developed as a collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and the criminal justice system in the state of Iowa (Zarling, Lawrence, Oregno, 2017). It is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, \& Wilson, 1999), which is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. ACTV is innovative in two primary ways; first, ACTV applies the ACT model to the treatment of domestic violence, and second, ACTV is specifically designed for use in the correctional setting as part of criminal justice programming. | Behavioural | ACTV |
| The Duluth ModelThe Duluth Model is based on the premise that domestic abuse happens when men believe they have the right to authority over women who are their intimate partners. The Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children. | Behavioural | The Duluth Model |
Primary outcome
Domestic assault recidivism
Time frame: One year time period following BIP
Domestic assault charges (per criminal justice data)
Conflict Tactics Scale
Time frame: Start and end of BIP, then one year later
Psychological (subscale min-max= 0-48), physical (subscale min-max= 0-72), and sexual (subscale min-max= 0-42) aggression (per victim reports); higher values = greater frequency of aggressive acts
2 secondary outcomes
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II)
Time frame: Start and end of BIP
Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised
Time frame: Start and end of BIP
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Dec 2024.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40990942Zarling A, Berta M, Weems CF. Changes in Sexist Beliefs and Psychological Flexibility Among Men Court-Mandated to Domestic Violence Programs. J Interpers Violence. 2025 Sep 24:8862605251368854. doi: 10.1177/08862605251368854. Online ahead of print.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 35446078Zarling A, Russell D. A randomized clinical trial of acceptance and commitment therapy and the Duluth Model classes for men court-mandated to a domestic violence program. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2022 Apr;90(4):326-338. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000722.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Amie Zarling, Ph.D. principal investigator
Iowa State University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing ACTV and The Duluth Model in people with Domestic Violence, run by Iowa State University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Dec 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Domestic assault recidivism (time frame: One year time period following BIP). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03609801, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Dec 2024.