Violence and victims
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Stalking is an obsessive behavior. Legal definitions generally characterize stalking as repetitive conduct. It may therefore be expected that recidivism by stalkers is high. ⋯ Stalkers who do recidivate do so quickly after a conviction. They appear to make use of various neutralization techniques. There is a small group of highly obsessive stalkers that seems not to be stopped by any of the measures, sanctions, or interventions that are imposed.
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Violence and victims · Jan 2009
Intimate partner violence and risk for depression among postpartum women in Lima, Peru.
A cross-sectional study of 2,317 women who delivered at Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Peru, was carried out to evaluate risk of depression in relation to maternal experience with intimate partner violence (IPV) before and during pregnancy. Depression severity was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Subset (PHQ-9). ⋯ A positive gradient was observed for severity of depression and IPV during pregnancy (trend p < 0.001). Postpartum women who experienced IPV during pregnancy had higher levels of depression severity than did nonabused women.
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Violence and victims · Jan 2009
Mortality of women from intimate partner violence in South Africa: a national epidemiological study.
The purpose of this article is to describe mortality of women from intimate partner violence (IPV) in South Africa using a retrospective national study in a proportionate random sample of 25 mortuaries. Homicides identified from mortuary, autopsy, and police records. There were 3,797 female homicides, of which 50.3% were from IPV. ⋯ Blunt force injuries were more common, while strangulation or asphyxiation were less common. The national IPV mortality rate was more than twice that found in the United States. The study highlights the value of collecting reliable data across the globe to develop interventions for advocacy of which gender equity is critical.
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Violence and victims · Jan 2008
The relationship between childhood abuse and suicidality in adult bipolar disorder.
This study evaluates the effect of childhood sexual and physical abuse on suicidality in adults with bipolar disorder. We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult outpatients (N= 381) with DSM-IV-TR-defined bipolar disorder seeking evaluation and treatment at an academic specialty research program (i.e., Mood Disorders Pharmacology Unit, University Health Network, University of Toronto) between October 2002 and November 2005. Eighteen percent (n = 68) of adult patients with bipolar disorder had a recorded history of childhood abuse (p = 0.009). ⋯ Logistic regression analysis indicated that Childhood abuse was a significant predictor of lifetime suicidality in adult bipolar patients (OR = 2.05, CI = 1.19-3.510). Childhood abuse is associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adults with bipolar disorder. Anamnestic inquiry regarding childhood maltreatment is salient to risk assessment, illness management planning, preventative strategies, and treatment interventions in bipolar disorder.
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Violence and victims · Jan 2007
Female victims of domestic violence: which victims do police refer to crisis intervention?
Factors associated with activation of a volunteer-based crisis intervention services program for victims of police-reported intimate partner violence (IPV) were examined to determine if those for whom services were activated were representative of the overall eligible population. The study population comprised 2,092 adult female victims of male-perpetrated police-reported IPV. ⋯ Additionally, one of the city's five police precincts was less likely than the remaining four to utilize these services. Activation of crisis intervention services was associated with factors related to need and feasibility of service delivery, but differential activation at the precinct level was also found to be influential.