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Psychosocial

Intimate partner violence

Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice
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Abused women use healthcare services more than non-abused women. They also identify healthcare providers as the professionals they would most trust with disclosure of abuse.52 Consider asking all pregnant adult and adolescent women about partner violence during antenatal care.1 There is insufficient evidence for screening the general population;53 however, there should be a low threshold for asking about abuse, particularly when the GP suspects underlying psychosocial problems.1 Training GPs to identify violence has resulted in increased identification and referral to services.54 Inviting women who are fearful of a partner to attend counselling by trained GPs has resulted in increased safety discussions with women and less depressive symptoms.55 There is some evidence for the effectiveness of interventions in clinical practice to reduce partner violence.56

Intimate partner violence: Identifying risk

Table 10.3.1

Intimate partner violence: Identifying risk
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Tests to detect intimate partner violence

Table 10.3.2

Tests to detect intimate partner violence
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These recommendations might apply to people in same-sex relationships and male victims, but there has been insufficient research in these areas.

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