Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.
José Antonio Echauri1, Javier Fernández-Montalvo2, María Martínez1 and Juana Mª Azkarate1
Background: In recent years, the number of immigrant perpetrators who attend treatment programmes for partner violence has increased. In this study, the effectiveness of a psychological treatment programme for immigrant men who have committed a gender-based violent crime was evaluated. Methods: The sample was composed of 300 individuals (150 immigrants and 150 citizens) who received treatment in the batterer intervention programme developed in Pamplona (Navarra). A two-group design was used (immigrants and citizens) with multiple, repeated evaluations (pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 12-month follow-up). Results: Results showed the usefulness of the programme, with no statistically significant differences in the success and improvement rates observed between the immigrant and citizen patient groups. Post-treatment success rate was 34.6% both in the immigrant group and the citizen group. The improvement rate was 51.3% in both groups. Results at 12-month follow up were nearly the same. The combined rate of success and improvement was 87.3% among immigrants and 86.6% among citizens. In addition, the associated psychopathologic symptoms exhibited significant improvement. Conclusions: The tested programme was shown to be effective in the treatment of immigrant batterers.