Intimate Partner Violence Among Patients Diagnosed With Severe Mental Disorder

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2020 Oct;208(10):749-754. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001207.

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has a remarkable impact on mental health and is common in people diagnosed with severe mental disorders (SMDs). Data of 102 outpatients were collected from clinical records and the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ). Global estimation of lifetime IPV exposure was obtained by combining answers to selected TLEQ questions about physical, psychological, and sexual IPV. Overall, 24.5% of the participants reported at least one lifetime episode of IPV victimization. Female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 3.15, p = 0.016) and childhood trauma (OR = 4.7, p = 0.002) significantly increased the likelihood of IPV victimization. Conversely, posttraumatic stress disorder was not significantly increased in IPV victims. These findings are in line with current literature and suggest a remarkable and transdiagnostic prevalence of lifetime IPV victimization in SMD. Gender, childhood trauma, and SMD are relevant factors in IPV analysis and prevention. Diathesis of trauma, psychosocial vulnerability to revictimization and intersectional feminist theory help explain our results.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences / statistics & numerical data
  • Bipolar Disorder / epidemiology
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data
  • Emotional Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Exposure to Violence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intimate Partner Violence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychological Trauma / epidemiology
  • Psychotic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Schizophrenia / epidemiology
  • Sex Factors
  • Sex Offenses / statistics & numerical data*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology