Group Therapy Proves Effective for Homeless Veterans with History of Violence and Substance Abuse
Different approaches to treatment are examined in a number of situations to determine the best method for each individual patient. To get to this point, assessments must be done overall to examine effective approaches for specific conditions.
For homeless individuals, it can be a challenge to overcome specific mental issues that have created their current situation in the first place. The Science Daily recently issued a release that examines a new study on group therapy for homeless veterans.
This approach to treatment for homeless veterans who have admitted taking physical or emotional abuse against their partners has proven to be effective. The research is the result of collaboration between Gary Dick, associate professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, and Brad Schaffer, corrections counselor for the Veterans Administration Cincinnati Medical Center.
In examining the cases of 130 homeless veterans who admitted to inflicting such abuse, all veterans were male, living in homeless shelters and had a median age of 45. Roughly 88 percent of these veterans were unemployed.
Another 90 percent of the group reported suffering from some form of substance abuse; 16 percent reported a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); and 41 percent of the men expressed an interest in joining group treatment.
This group treatment involved a 13-week psycho-educational program with sessions led by a master level social worker. Sessions included focus on anger management, links between substance abuse and violence, respect and partnership, stress and challenges, and values and violence.
According to researchers, the support delivered in a group produced dramatic results in curbing domestic violence among the homeless veterans. The average score of 9.5 in reporting abuse before treatment dropped to an average score of 4 after the treatment.
This study is important as the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs suggest that 33 percent of the U.S. adult homeless population is made up of veterans.
