Evaluating the Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence-Related Training and Mental Health Professionals’ Assessment of Relationship Problems

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem associated with increased risk of developing mental health conditions. Assessment of IPV in mental health settings is important for appropriate treatment planning and referral; however, lack of training in how to identify and respond to IPV presents a significant barrier to assessment. To address this issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) advanced a series of evidence-based recommendations for IPV-related training programs. This study examines the relationship between mental health professionals’ experiences of IPV-related training, including the degree to which their training resembles WHO training recommendations, and their accuracy in correctly identifying relationship problems. Participants were psychologists and psychiatrists ( N = 321) from 24 countries who agreed to participate in an online survey in French, Japanese, or Spanish. They responded to questions regarding their IPV-related training (i.e., components and hours of training) and rated the presence or absence of clinically significant relationship problems and maltreatment (RPM) and mental disorders across four case vignettes. Participants who received IPV-related training, and whose training was more recent and more closely resembled WHO training recommendations, were more likely than those without training to accurately identify RPM when it was present. Clinicians regardless of IPV-related training were equally likely to misclassify normative couple issues as clinically significant RPM. Findings suggest that IPV-related training assists clinicians in making more accurate assessments of patients presenting with clinically significant relationship problems, including IPV. These data inform recommendations for IPV-related training programs and suggest that training should be repeated, multicomponent, and include experiential training exercises, and guidelines for distinguishing normative relationship problems from clinically significant RPM.

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Exploring Mental Health Professionals’ Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence–Related Training: Results From a Global Survey

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520908020 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052090802 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Samantha C. Burns ◽

Cary S. Kogan ◽

Richard E. Heyman ◽

Heather M. Foran ◽

Amy M. Smith Slep ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Global Mental Health ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Relationship Problems ◽

Mental Health Settings

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health problem that has been shown to lead to serious mental health consequences. Due to its frequent co-occurrence with psychiatric disorders, it is important to assess for IPV in mental health settings to improve treatment planning and referral. However, lack of training in how to identify and respond to IPV has been identified as a barrier for the assessment of IPV. The present study seeks to better understand this IPV-related training gap by assessing global mental health professionals’ experiences of IPV-related training and factors that contribute to their likelihood of receiving training. Participants were French-, Spanish-, and Japanese-speaking psychologists and psychiatrists ( N = 321) from 24 nations differing on variables related to IPV, including IPV prevalence, IPV-related norms, and IPV-related laws. Participants responded to an online survey asking them to describe their experiences of IPV-related training (i.e., components and hours of training) and were asked to rate the frequency with which they encountered IPV in clinical practice and their level of knowledge and experience related to relationship problems; 53.1% of participants indicated that they had received IPV-related training. Clinicians from countries with relatively better implemented laws addressing IPV and those who encountered IPV more often in their regular practice were more likely to have received training. Participants who had received IPV-related training, relative to those without training, were more likely to report greater knowledge and experience related to relationship problems. Findings suggest that clinicians’ awareness of IPV and the institutional context in which they practice are related to training. Training, in turn, is associated with subjective appraisals of knowledge and experience related to relationship problems. Increasing institutional efforts to address IPV (e.g., implementing IPV legislation) may contribute to improved practices with regard to IPV in mental health settings.

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Counseling Advocacy Competencies in Action: Lessons Learned through the See the Triumph Campaign

Journal for Social Action in Counseling & Psychology ◽

10.33043/jsacp.8.1.53-69 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 53-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Christine E Murray ◽

Allison Crowe

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Social Justice ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Lessons Learned

With the growing emphasis on social justice in the counseling and psychology professions, mental health professionals are increasingly called upon to engage in advocacy work. In this article, the authors describe their advocacy campaign, See the Triumph, which aims to end the stigma surrounding intimate partner violence. See the Triumph is based on research with survivors of intimate partner violence, whose stories inspired the development of the campaign. The article describes how the See the Triumph campaign reflects the American Counseling Association’s Advocacy Competencies, as well as the most significant lessons learned through the campaign.

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A Review of: “Intimate Partner Violence: A Clinical Training Guide for Mental Health Professionals”

Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy ◽

10.1080/15332690802640115 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 89-90

Author(s):

Tiffany B. Brown

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Clinical Training ◽

Intimate Partner

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Intimate partner violence: gender issues and the adjudication of homicide and other cases

Journal of Criminological Research Policy and Practice ◽

10.1108/jcrpp-01-2018-0008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 226-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

John Hamel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Domestic Violence ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Expert Witness ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Content Type ◽

And Gender

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of gender in intimate partner violence (IPV) and, based upon the author’s experience as an expert witness, 25 years of clinical experience working with IPV perpetrators and victims, and a review of the relevant scholarly literature, provide judges, attorneys, mental health professionals and expert court witness suggestions for the adjudication of cases involving IPV in homicide and other cases. Design/methodology/approach The author reviewed the extant general domestic violence research literature, depending largely on results from findings from the Partner Abuse State of Knowledge Project, a series of 17 literature review published in five issues of the peer-reviewed journal, Partner Ause. Other relevant research articles were found via a search of the PschInfo database, using the keywords “intimate partner homicides,” “domestic violence homicides,” “intimate partner homicides and gender” and “domestic violence homicides and gender.” Findings The judicial response to IPV perpetration has been limited by common misconceptions, among them the confusion between most forms of IPV, which are primarily bi-directional and less consequential and battering, which involves more serious assaults and is typically motivated out of a desire to dominate and control one’s partner. Another misconception is that women are much more likely than men to perpetrate IPV in self-defense or to express emotion. On the other hand, there is no question that female victims are much more likely to experience severe physical injuries, and that women account for approximately three-quarters of homicide victims. Practical implications These include the following: this concise review of IPV research provides a clearer understanding of IPV, useful for anyone working in the field. Mental health professionals working with IPV perpetrators, as well as victims, can draw from this research best practice suggestions in working with more problematic cases. The paper should be especially useful to anyone involved in the adjudication of IPV cases, including lethal cases. In particular, prosecutors and attorneys working for the defense are given suggestions on how to obtain more reliable research data, choose more fruitful questions for their clients, and better conceptualize a case overall. Originality/value This paper presents a more nuanced and evidence-based conceptualization of serious and lethal IPV, drawing on a broad research base not generally available to members of the legal profession.

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Preparing Mental Health Professionals to Work With Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of the Literature

Affilia ◽

10.1177/0886109920960827 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088610992096082

Author(s):

Amber Sutton ◽

Haley Beech ◽

Burcu Ozturk ◽

Debra Nelson-Gardell

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

Financial Outcomes ◽

Socially Constructed

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects millions of individuals across all demographics and ethnicities. Research has revealed a direct link between experiencing IPV and having adverse physical, mental, and financial outcomes which can create difficulties for survivors. Survivors experiencing these adverse outcomes are likely to seek out support to address these issues, increasing the likelihood that they will encounter mental health professionals (MHPs). MHPs can play a significant role in assessing and addressing IPV since they are often critical access points for those experiencing violence and are likely to counsel victims. Accurate identification of current or past IPV victimization is crucial to avoiding the potential of misdiagnosis of survivors. In addition, by applying and emphasizing an understanding of the connection between individual and structural explorations of gender, race, class, and other socially constructed identities, mental health professionals can utilize the skills necessary to challenge inequalities, which in turn can encourage survivors to create strategies that make sense to themselves and their communities. This study explores what is known about how MHPs are prepared to work with IPV. Peer-reviewed journals that were published between 2005 and 2019 were reviewed systematically to develop a better understanding of the existing literature. We sought to answer the question, “What is known about how MHPs are prepared to work with IPV?” This review identified 20 articles regarding training experiences of MHPs and how these experiences shaped their responses to and practice with those experiencing IPV.

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The relationship between parent mental health and intimate partner violence on adolescent behavior, stigma and school attendance in families in rural Democratic Republic of Congo

Global Mental Health ◽

10.1017/gmh.2018.10 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nancy Glass ◽

Anjalee Kohli ◽

Pamela J. Surkan ◽

Mitma Mpanano Remy ◽

Nancy Perrin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

School Attendance ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

Parent Mental Health ◽

The Relationship

Background.Prolonged conflict and economic instability challenge the existing support networks in families and society places significant stress on both adults and adolescents. Exploring individual, family and social factors that increase the likelihood of or protect adolescents from negative outcomes are important to the development of evidence-based prevention and response programing in global settings.Objective.Examine the relationship between parent mental health and experience/perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) and adolescent behaviors, stigma, and school attendance. The relationship is further examined for differences by gender.Methods.Secondary analysis of data from an ongoing comparative effectiveness trial of a productive asset transfer program in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).Results.Three hundred and eighty-eight adolescent and parent dyads were included in the analysis. The analysis demonstrated that parent mental health and IPV can have a negative impact their children's well-being and the impact is different for boys and girls, likely linked to gender roles and responsibilities in the home and community. Social relationships of adolescents, as reported through experienced stigma, were negatively impacted for both boys and girls. Parent report of symptoms of PTSD and depression had a stronger negative effect on girls’ outcomes, including experienced stigma, externalizing behaviors, and missed days of school than boys. For adolescent boys, their parent's report of IPV victimization/perpetration was associated with more negative behaviors at the 8-month follow-up assessment.Conclusion.The findings reinforce the critical importance of interventions that engage parents and their children in activities that advance health and improve relationships within the family.

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Problem-Solving and Mental Health Outcomes of Women and Children in the Wake of Intimate Partner Violence

Journal of Environmental and Public Health ◽

10.1155/2014/708198 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

John Maddoux ◽

Lene Symes ◽

Judith McFarlane ◽

Anne Koci ◽

Heidi Gilroy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Problem Solving ◽

Environmental Stress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Social Problem Solving ◽

Abused Women ◽

Problem Solving Skills ◽

Clinically Significant

The environmental stress of intimate partner violence is common and often results in mental health problems of depression, anxiety, and PTSD for women and behavioral dysfunctions for their children. Problem-solving skills can serve to mitigate or accentuate the environmental stress of violence and associated impact on mental health. To better understand the relationship between problem-solving skills and mental health of abused women with children, a cross-sectional predictive analysis of 285 abused women who used justice or shelter services was completed. The women were asked about social problem-solving, and mental health symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD as well as behavioral functioning of their children. Higher negative problem-solving scores were associated with significantlyP<0.001greater odds of having clinically significant levels of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and somatization for the woman and significantlyP<0.001greater odds of her child having borderline or clinically significant levels of both internalizing and externalizing behaviors. A predominately negative problem-solving approach was strongly associated with poorer outcomes for both mothers and children in the aftermath of the environmental stress of abuse. Interventions addressing problem-solving ability may be beneficial in increasing abused women’s abilities to navigate the daily stressors of life following abuse.

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Sleep Disturbance Partially Mediates the Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence and Physical/Mental Health in Women and Men

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260515592651 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 32 (16) ◽

pp. 2471-2495 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Linden Lalley-Chareczko ◽

Andrea Segal ◽

Michael L. Perlis ◽

Sara Nowakowski ◽

Joshua Z. Tal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Physical Health ◽

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Health Concern ◽

The Past ◽

The Relationship

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide health concern and an important risk factor for poor mental/physical health in both women and men. Little is known about whether IPV leads to sleep disturbance. However, sleep problems may be common in the context of IPV and may mediate relationships with mental/physical health. Data from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were used ( N = 34,975). IPV was assessed in female and male participants for any history of being threatened by, physically hurt by, or forced to have sex with an intimate partner (THREAT, HURT, and SEX, respectively), and, further, as being forced to have sex with or physically injured by an intimate partner within the past year (SEXyr and HURTyr, respectively). These survey items were coded yes/no. Sleep disturbance was assessed as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much at least 6 of the last 14 days. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex, race, income, education, and physical/mental health, assessed whether IPV predicted sleep disturbance. Sobel–Goodman tests assessed whether relationships between IPV and physical/mental health were partially mediated by sleep disturbance. All IPV variables were associated with sleep disturbance, even after adjusting for the effects of age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, education, employment, marital status, physical health and mental health. THREAT was associated with sleep disturbance (odds ratio [OR] = 2.798, p < .0001), as was HURT (OR = 2.683, p < .0001), SEX (OR = 3.237, p < .0001), SEXyr (OR = 7.741, p < .0001), and HURTyr (OR = 7.497, p < .0001). In mediation analyses, all IPV variables were associated with mental health ( p < .0001), and all were associated with physical health ( p < .007) except SEXyr. Sleep disturbance partially mediated all relationships (Sobel p < .0005 for all tests). Mediation was around 30%, ranging from 18% (HURTyr and mental health) to 41% (HURT and physical health). IPV was strongly associated with current sleep disturbance above the effect of demographics and overall mental/physical health, even if the IPV happened in the past. Furthermore, sleep disturbance partially mediates the relationship between IPV and mental/physical health. Sleep interventions may potentially mitigate negative effects of IPV.

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Barriers to Disclosure of Intimate Partner Violence among Female Patients Availing Services at Tertiary Care Psychiatric Hospitals: A Qualitative Study

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice ◽

10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_14_18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 09 (03) ◽

pp. 326-330 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mysore Narasimha Vranda ◽

Channaveerachari Naveen Kumar ◽

D. Muralidhar ◽

N. Janardhana ◽

P. T. Sivakumar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Psychiatric Setting

ABSTRACT Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV)/domestic violence is one of the significant public health problems, but little is known about the barriers to disclosure in tertiary care psychiatric settings. Methodology: One hundred women seeking inpatient or outpatient services at a tertiary care psychiatric setting were recruited for study using purposive sampling. A semi-structured interview was administered to collect the information from women with mental illness experiencing IPV to know about their help-seeking behaviors, reasons for disclosure/nondisclosure of IPV, perceived feelings experienced after reporting IPV, and help received from the mental health professionals (MHPs) following the disclosure of violence. Results: The data revealed that at the patient level, majority of the women chose to conceal their abuse from the mental health-care professionals, fearing retaliation from their partners if they get to know about the disclosure of violence. At the professional level, lack of privacy was another important barrier for nondisclosure where women reported that MHPs discussed the abuse in the presence of their violent partners. Conclusion: The findings of the study brought out the need for mandatory screening of violence and designing tailor-made multicomponent interventions for mental health care professionals at psychiatric setting in India.

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