Depressive symptoms in women experiencing intimate partner violence.
The study was a cross-sectional examination of African American women positive for intimate partner violence (IPV) who presented to the medical or psychiatric emergency department (ED) for treatment. African American women with a recent history of IPV who presented following an attempted suicide (n = 100) were compared to demographically comparable African American women who were IPV positive who had not attempted suicide and presented for treatment of another condition(n= 100). Women completed face-to-face interviews on several measures, including demographics and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Overall, there were no demographic differences between cases and controls. Attempters reported statistically significant higher scores on all 21 BDI-II items than did nonattempters. Four BDI-II items had effect size values in the medium range: sadness, self-dislike, suicidal thoughts, and feelings of worthlessness. These four items can be used as a brief screen in the ED to detect female patients positive for IPV at increased risk for suicidal behavior.
Houry
Debra
D
Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. Dhoury@emory.edu
Kaslow
Nadine J
NJ
Thompson
Martie P
MP
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology