Prevalence and differential profile of patients with drug addiction problems who commit intimate partner violence

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were, first, to explore the prevalence of aggressors with lifetime intimate partner violence (IPV) among patients in the Proyecto Hombre of Navarra (Spain) addiction treatment programme; and second, to know the specific and differential characteristics of patients presenting IPV as aggressors. METHODS: A sample of 162 patients (119 men and 43 women) was assessed. Data on socio-demographic and substance consumption characteristics, IPV variables, psychopathological symptoms, and personality variables were obtained. The profiles of patients in addiction treatment with and without a history of violence towards their partners were compared. RESULTS: The results showed that 33.6% of people in treatment for addiction had committed violence against their partners. This prevalence was significantly higher (χ(2) = 15.6, p CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: There was a differential profile in patients with IPV perpetration, showing more psychopathological and personality symptoms. Moreover, in this study being a woman was one of the main predictors of committing IPV. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:1-9). Language: en