Intimate partner violence (IPV) and associated factors: An overview of epidemiological and qualitative evidence in literature

Aim: This review aims to examine the recent literature on the topic of intimate partner violence (IPV) in order to provide definitions, Italian and international prevalence data, prevalence data in special populations (such as patients with severe mental illness), investigations into risk factors (alcohol, substances, child abuse) and the consequences on general and mental health. Methods: Free search has been used in Medline/PubMed with key words ((“Mental Disorders” [Majr]) AND “Crime Victims” [Majr: NoExp]) AND ((“Domestic Violence” [Majr]) OR “Intimate Partner Violence” [Majr]) and in PsychInfo with MJSUB.EXACT.EXPLODE (“Victimization”) AND MJSUB.EXACT.EXPLODE (“Mental Disorders”) AND (MJSUB.EXACT.EXPLODE (“Intimate Partner Violence”) OR MJSUB. EXACT.EXPLODE (“Domestic Violence”)). Results: 219 publications in PubMed (during the last 10 years) and 48 in PsychInfo concerning IPV and mental disorders; National websites (e.g. ISTAT, Office for National Statistics) have provided updated epidemiological data. Discussion: In many countries, IPV and domestic violence are subject to national surveys, but scientific research on the topic mainly involves England and the United States, in order to establish the possible correlations between IPV, mental disorders and risk factors. Alcohol and substance use disorders and childhood abuse are the most risk factors related to IPV. This type of violence is a major public health problem, also in economic terms, for its consequences on physical and mental health. The WHO in 2011 developed some guidelines for health professionals on how to respond adequately to violence from an intimate partner and to sexual violence against women. Conclusions: In the light of the importance of violence between partners, the health and academic institutions have the task of framing the phenomenon in epidemiological and clinical terms, providing updated research data to the stakeholders, in order to improve the treatment and prevention practices.