Professor Tony Butler1
1University of NSW, School of Population Health
Biography:
Over the past 25 years Tony has conducted numerous projects in the justice health area and currently heads the Justice Health Research Program, UNSW, School of Population Health. His work has involved developing two national offender health data collections: the National Prison Entrants Bloodborne Virus Survey, and the Prisoner Health Information Collection. Current research includes examining the link in psychosis and offending, the role of traumatic brain injury in offending, a pharmacotherapy-based RCT (ReINVEST) for impulsive-violent offenders, an intervention (Beyond Violence) for women who use violence, and text mining police domestic violence event narratives. He leads an NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence in Violence Perpetration.
Abstract:
This presentation will describe the implementation and main findings from the ReINVEST clinical trial, a novel double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effectiveness of a commonly prescribed antidepressant (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sertraline) administered to men with convictions for violence (including domestic violence) and highly impulsive in reducing violence and domestic violence offending.
The study represents a world-first, large scale RCT of a pharmacological approach to reducing violence, with the primary outcome unambiguously determined by linkage to Criminal Justice System records. The study commenced recruitment in late 2013 and continued for almost a decade until the last follow-up was completed in mid-2022.
ReINVEST revealed that many men who use violence have troubled upbringings, mental health disorders, substance use issues, system conflict, unemployment and relationship challenges. Engagement with their complex needs became an essential ingredient of the ReINVEST approach.
Opportunities for scale-up as part of efforts to curb the epidemic of domestic violence will also be discussed.