[Domestic violence in patients and caregivers dyads in neurological diseases].
BACKGROUND
Patients with neurological diseases are susceptible to abuse and neglect. Studies on violence in this context have mainly focused on abuse perpetrated by a caregiver to the patient directionally. In this study we describe violence in dyads of caregivers and patients with neurological disorders according to frequency, directionality, and type of relation.


METHODS
One-hundred-and-eighty-five caregiver-patient dyads were assessed by means of the National Survey of Violence Against Women (NSVAW) guidelines and the Zarit and Pfeiffer questionnaires. Bivariate analysis and Spearman correlation tests were performed.


RESULTS
Violence was reported by 32.5% of caregivers and 33.5% of patients. In both groups, psychological abuse was the most common. Mutual violence (54.5%) is the most common type of abuse and the caregiver reported as having more violent behavior is the intimate partner. Epilepsy was the neurological disorder where violence was more prevalent (47.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of violence in our sample is higher than the one for the general population of 21%, as reported by the NSVAW. Clinical neurologists and healthcare services are key elements for the detection of abuse in this context.
Laboratorio de Violencia y Género, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía MVS, México, D.F., México.
María Alejandra
MA
Sánchez-Guzmán
Departamento de Neuropsicología y Grupos de Apoyo, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía MVS, México, D.F., México.
Francisco
F
Paz-Rodríguez
Laboratorio de Epidemiología Clínica y Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía MVS, México, D.F., México.
Mariana
M
Espinola-Nadurille
Geriatría, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía MVS, México, D.F., México.
Zoila
Z
Trujillo-De Los Santos
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases