Neuropsychological performance, substance misuse, and recidivism in intimate partner violence perpetrators

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between neuropsychological performance, substance misuse, and recidivism among intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators. It compares three groups: IPV perpetrators with substance misuse (n = 104), IPV perpetrators without substance misuse (n = 120), and non-violent men (n = 82). Findings indicate that IPV perpetrators with substance misuse exhibit worse cognitive performance than non-violent men, particularly in attention, executive functioning, and emotion decoding. Those with substance misuse also show higher recidivism rates than IPV perpetrators without substance misuse. The study highlights the importance of integrating neuropsychological assessments into IPV intervention programs to address cognitive deficits and reduce recidivism risk.