Evaluatión de un programa de tratamiento en prisión de hombres condenados por violencia grave contra la pareja.

In this cuasi-experimental study the effectiveness of a psychological treatment program for men who were in prison because of having committed a serious offence of gender violence is tested. The sample consisted of 148 men who were imprisoned in 18 Spanish prisons. The psychological treatment was a cognitive- behavioral program, in a group format, with 20 weekly sessions that lasted for 8 months. The results showed a significant modification of the irrational beliefs both about women and about violence as a strategy to cope with everyday difficulties. Likewise a significant decrease of the psychopathological symptomatology, of anger and impulsivity, as well as a relevant increase in the self-esteem, was obtained. On the other hand, results indicated that the only difference between the patients who dropped out of treatment and the ones who completed it was the lack of previous criminal record. High impulsivity and depressive symptoms before treatment predicted a poorer therapeutic outcome. Implications of this study for future research in this field are commented upon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]