Can mens violence against women be treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? : A systematic literature study

Background: The World Health Organization report shows that about 30% of all women who have been in a relationship have experienced physical or sexual violence in intimate relationships. 38% of all murders of women is made of a close partner. In Sweden, an estimated 22 000 cases of violence against women a year, where domestic violence is the single largest portion. The two most common treatment models for men who used violence in close relationships is Domestic Abuse Intervention Program and cognitive behavioral therapy. The government's goal is to stop men's violence against women. Therefore, the issue of men's violence against women is raised as a fourth milestone in equality policy to draw attention to the violence linked to the patterns and norms that exist in society. Socialstyrelsen underlines that there are few evaluations of activities using cognitive behavioral therapy. Aim: Examining the effect of CBT as a treatment for men who used violence in close relationships. Method: Systematic literature study. Results: Based on the results obtained it is possible to gently draw positive conclusions that motivation and attitude are important components in the changing process. There is some evidence to suggest that CBT can be an effective treatment for men who used violence in relationships during a follow-up of four to nine months if the participant’s got motivation and willingness to change