The efficacy of interventions to interrupt intimate partner violence has been a controversial topic. Although there is evidence that cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions are not effective and that the Duluth model was only able to produce small to medium effects on women's domestic violence victimization [1][2], more recently, a meta-analysis reported that both types of intervention produce statistically significant reductions in violence against women, with better results for cognitive-behavioral therapy [3].

According to the findings of this latest systematic review, the effect of these interventions was null when considering cases in which recidivism was measured through partner reports, whereas it was positive and significant in reducing recidivism when measured through official records. In addition, short interventions (less than 16 sessions/4 months) were not effective in reducing recidivism (measured in official records) and may have negative effects (increased recidivism), whereas longer interventions (more than 16 weeks/4 months of sessions) were effective in reducing the recidivism rate [3].

De acordo com os achados desta última revisão sistemática, o efeito dessas intervenções foi nulo quando considerados os casos em que a reincidência foi medida através de relatos dos casais, enquanto que foi positiva e significativa para a redução da reincidência quando mensurada por registros oficiais. Ademais, as intervenções curtas (menos de 16 sessões/4 meses) não foram eficazes em reduzir a reincidência (medida em registros oficiais) e podem ter efeitos negativos (aumento da reincidência), enquanto que intervenções mais longas (mais de 16 semanas/4 meses de sessões) foram eficazes na redução da taxa de reincidência [3].