Intimate partner violence in the military: Treatment considerations

While considerable research has examined the prevalence of IPV in civilian couples, much less information is available on married or cohabitating couples in which one or both parents are active duty soldiers or veterans of foreign wars. In this review, we explore various aspects of the partner violence phenomena among military personnel (i.e., active duty and veterans) and their implications for intervention. We highlight (a) the scope of the problem, (b) discuss domestic violence as defined by the Department of Defense (DoD), (c) list prevalence rates of IPV among military families, (d) identify correlates of IPV, and (e) discuss treatment options for providers working with these couples. We also discuss the barriers to intervention and their implications for victims, perpetrators, and providers. Conclusions and recommendations for future research directions are also briefly discussed.

► In 2001, over 18,000 incidents of abuse were reported to Family Advocacy Programs.
► Eighty-five percent of these events involved physical abuse.
► In response to the concern over spouse abuse, the DoD issued directive 6400.1.
► Therapists play an important role in recognizing victims and perpetrators.