Should we reconsider anger management when addressing physical intimate partner violence perpetration by alcohol abusing males? A systematic review

• Few randomized controlled trials of the effectiveness of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrator interventions have included alcohol abusers
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with anger management components were no more efficacious in reducing physical IPV perpetration than comparison interventions

Anger expression and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration are common among male alcohol abusers. Despite this, few randomized controlled trials (RCT) of the effectiveness of IPV perpetrator interventions have included alcohol abusers, and few interventions include anger management. A systematic review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions with anger management components utilized to reduce IPV perpetration by males towards their female partners, and present evidence supporting the integration of anger management into perpetrator interventions. 442 records were identified from the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases. Four RCTs of CBT interventions with anger management components to reduce IPV were included in the review. All assessed alcohol use at baseline but only one trial reported outcomes for alcohol use. CBT interventions with anger management components were no more efficacious in reducing IPV than comparison interventions. However, two trials reported greater reductions in IPV perpetration for alcohol abusers in the CBT interventions with anger management components than comparison interventions. There is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of CBT interventions with anger management components for male alcohol abusers in reducing or eliminating IPV perpetrated towards their female partners.