Exploring the treatment needs of high-risk male intimate partner violence perpetrators who screen into the offender personality disorder pathway

Purpose Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an area of international concern across social, health and justice settings. Reducing such has been an ongoing part of government strategy in the UK. As well as putting in measures to protect victims, part of the strategy to reduce this problem is around working with perpetrators to reduce the risk they present to intimate partners. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors associated with male IPV perpetrators who screened into the offender personality disorder (OPD) pathway in Wales, and to identify the treatment needs of this cohort. Design/methodology/approach The authors analysed the formulation documents of 235 men who had committed IPV and who had been assessed as posing a high risk of harm to the public. All men had complex needs linked to their personality functioning. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings Twenty-eight treatment needs were identified for this cohort, the most common of which were emotion dysregulation (identified in 96.2% of cases), relationship problems (93.6%) and substance misuse (90.2%). High levels of trauma and mental health problems were also identified. Practical implications Individuals who screened into the OPD pathway required support and intervention regarding emotional regulation/stabilisation, processing trauma, substance misuse and mental health. The authors emphasise the importance of individualised treatment based on collaborative assessment and formulation to determine the type of intervention needed, as well as the timing and sequencing of interventions. Approaching treatment in this way could help to maximise engagement, and the benefit obtained from work completed, including risk-reduction work. Originality/value The OPD pathway is a large-scale initiative that plays an important role in the justice system of England and Wales. To date, relatively little research has been published regarding the needs of the IPV perpetrators who are eligible for support from the OPD pathway. As well as this, there is currently somewhat limited research on the treatment needs of IPV perpetrators with difficulties linked to their complex personality presentations. This study aimed to address these gaps in the evidence base.