| Domesticviolence(DV)continues to beacomplexand significant publicand social health problem. This crimehasparticularlydevastating consequencesforwomenand traumatic effects on children and families. DVoffender intervention programs havegrown nationwidebutwith disappointingresults. Recidivism ratesforDVremain high—estimated at39%—and one-size-fits-all court-ordered DVeducational programshaveshown limited to no success in reducingDV recidivism. Thereis a need forinnovativeand integrated treatment formales arrestedfor DV. Thepurposeofthepresent studywas to evaluatetheoutcomes of neurofeedback—anoninvasive form ofbiofeedback intervention—on recognizedcontributingfactorsto DV(anger, aggression, and stress)and toevaluatepre-to post-changesin brain map indicators based on current standard of care. Twenty-onemalesarrestedformisdemeanorDV and court-ordered to attend a DVoffender intervention educational program volunteered to participate in this study and wererandomlyplaced in a treatment orcontrol group.Sixteen completed thestudy.A series ofdependent samplet tests compared pre-scores to post-scores on self-reportinstrumentsfor anger, stress,and aggression, as well as qEEGbrain maps.TheqEEGpaired sample t test for neurofeedbacktreatmentsuggested significanceatEC (eyes closed)T4 (temporal right side) for HighBetafrequency. Resultsfrom theself-report instrumentsmeasuringanger,stress, and aggression did not indicatesignificance. Results indicatedadifferencein pre-post neurofeedbacktreatment versus nontreatment forHigh Beta wavefrequency,which presentsexigenceforfurther research.Futureresearchwith an increased samplesizeandadditional neurofeedbacktreatmentsessionsmaycontribute to the current and
xilimited evidence baseregarding potential alternativeor combined treatment options foroffendersin this damagingand devastatingcrime.KeyWords: neurofeedback, domesticviolence,aggression, anger, stress, domesticviolence offenders |