Resolution of depression among victims of intimate partner violence: is cessation of violence enough?
The objective of this article is to assess the effect of abuse cessation on depressive symptoms among women abused by a male intimate partner. This prospective cohort study of Seattle women with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) who were classified by history of abuse and abuse status at 3 month, 9 month, and 2 year follow-up interviews. Relative risks (RR) were calculated using generalized estimating equations. Among subjects with a history of psychological abuse only, cessation of abuse was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in the likelihood of depression compared to subjects whose abuse continued (aRR = 0.88; 95%CI: 0.75,1.03). Among subjects with a history of physical/sexual abuse and psychological abuse, cessation of physical/sexual abuse only was associated with a 27% decline, and cessation of both types of abuse was associated with a 35% decline in the likelihood of depression (aRR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.63,0.86; and aRR = 0.65; 95%CI: 0.55,0.76; respectively). Cessation of abuse among victims of IPV is associated with a decreased prevalence of depression.
Kernic
Mary A
MA
The Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA 98104-2499, USA. mkernic@u.washington.edu
Holt
Victoria L
VL
Stoner
Julie A
JA
Wolf
Marsha E
ME
Rivara
Frederick P
FP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology