Self-Defense Training in Women With Trauma

NCT ID: NCT01380379

Last Updated: 2017-02-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 9 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2011-04-30
• Study Completion Date: 2015-11-30

Brief Summary

Previous research has shown that self-defense training can lead to gains in women's assertiveness, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and physical competence, and decreases in anxiety, helplessness, fear, and avoidant behaviors. However, most of this research has been conducted with healthy women who had not previously experienced physical or sexual violence. The investigators believe that women with such trauma histories require additional care because of potential triggering symptoms. As such, the investigators are mindful of the potential for triggering trauma symptoms and will work with the women so that they feel safe and comfortable in their participation. This pilot study aims to examine whether similar psychological gains from self-defense training are made in women who have previous experiences of physical and/or sexual violence.

Detailed Description

There is a high rate of violence against women in the United States. For example, at least 1 in 6 women will experience an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime (Tjaden & Thoenees, 2000). The high physical, emotional, economic and social costs of such violence are staggering. In particular, there can be a serious impact on mental health, with both immediate and long-term consequences (e.g., Coker et al., 2000). The aim of this project is to examine the psychological benefits of a class, which incorporates psychological and physical self-defense skills, for women who have been the victim of sexual or physical violence.

A small literature suggests that women who take self-defense classes have increases in general self-efficacy and self-esteem (e.g.,Ozer and Bandura, 1990). This project is focusing on women who already have a history of physical or sexual violence. The investigators hypothesize that women who already have such a history of violence will benefit from a self-defense class that incorporates psychoeducation and brief psychology treatments in order to successfully participate in such a class and that ultimately it will improve their psychological well-being.

Potential participants will first do a short phone screening to see whether they may be eligible for the study. If so, they will be brought into the clinic for a full eligibility assessment.

Eligibility Procedures: Before entering the study, participants will participate in an eligibility interview. This will consist of a psychiatric interview (e.g., portions of the SCID and psychiatric rating scales), trauma history (e.g. CAPS), and physical health assessment. Participants will either need approval from their primary care physician to participate in the physical self-defense portion of the study or have a brief physical exam will a physician on the research team.

If the participant is eligible for the study, they will be added to the list of participants. Once an adequate number of participants have been screened and determine eligible for the study, they will participate in the group for 8 weeks.

Participants will fill out a series of questionnaires pre- and post- the course. Each set of questionnaires should take less than 1 hour to complete. In addition, the investigators conducted a 6-month post-class, follow up assessment.

Self-defense class: The self-defense program is an eight week curriculum that meets once per week for 2.5 hours per session. The course which involves three components. The first component is a psycho-educational component which provides current basic information about physical and sexual assaults and also skill building, such as assertiveness, communication skills, and boundary setting. The second component of each class is physical resistance techniques which offers ample training. This includes information about basic targets, punches, and kicks, as well as breaking out of holds and other resistance skills. The third component of each class includes a supportive psychotherapy debriefing session. Following participation in the self-defense class all participants will be required to come for an in-person, debriefing interview.

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Life skills and self-defense training

Women will participate in a therapeutic group which covers education, skills, and empowerment activities.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Life skills and self-defense training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

8 week class which meets once per week for 2.5 hours. Each class contains the following components: 1) life skills/education training. This includes basic education about physical and sexual assaults, assault risks, dating and communication, assertiveness training and boundary setting, 2) physical self-defense training, 3) supportive therapy/debriefing.

Interventions

Life skills and self-defense training

8 week class which meets once per week for 2.5 hours. Each class contains the following components: 1) life skills/education training. This includes basic education about physical and sexual assaults, assault risks, dating and communication, assertiveness training and boundary setting, 2) physical self-defense training, 3) supportive therapy/debriefing.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Women ages 21-65 years

2. History of physical and/or sexual violence, with subsequent interpersonal or psychological distress (e.g., depression or anxiety) related to this history.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Substance abuse in the past 6 months

2. Significant medical conditions that would preclude safe participation in the study

3. High levels of depression with significant suicide risk

4. Pregnant women

5. Active symptoms of psychosis or psychiatric instability

6. History of assaultive behavior or is judged to be at potential risk to assault others.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Stanford University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Jennifer Keller

Senior Research Scholar

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Jennifer Keller

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Stanford University

Locations

Stanford University School of Medicine

Stanford, California, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

20776

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

SU-04152011-7701

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id