TOPLINE:
Among women under mental health care in the UK who died by suicide between 2015 and 2021, 26% had experienced domestic violence, with higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-harm, and alcohol or drug misuse, a new study reported. These women were more likely to be younger and unemployed and had multiple adversities including serious financial problems and housing issues.
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study including 2416 women who died by suicide within 12 months of being under the care of UK mental health services between 2015 and 2021.
- Characteristics were compared between women who experienced domestic violence (including physical or sexual assault) and those with no known history of it.
- Data collection involved detailed questionnaires completed by supervising clinicians, primarily consultant psychiatrists.
TAKEAWAY:
- A total of 630 women reported experiencing domestic violence, 26% of all women with mental disorders who died by suicide while being under the care of mental health services.
- Women who experienced domestic violence had higher rates of PTSD (13% vs 4%), previous self-harm (83% vs 62%), alcohol misuse (63% vs 27%), drug misuse (48% vs 18%), violence as a perpetrator (22% vs 5%), and personality disorder (33% vs 16%; P < .001 for all) than those who did not.
- Women who experienced domestic violence were more likely to be younger (median age, 42 vs 47 years), living alone (51% vs 39%; P < .001), and unemployed (64% vs 39%; P < .001) than those who did not.
- Adverse life events were more common among women with domestic violence experience than among those without (66% vs 50%), with the most often being serious financial problems (23% vs 10%) and/or loss of job, benefits, or housing (20% vs 13%; P < .001 for all).
IN PRACTICE:
“Mental health services need to acknowledge the impact of domestic violence among many of their female patients and jointly work with domestic violence services to offer appropriate clinical and societal support,” the authors wrote.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Pauline Turnbull, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, England. It was published online on June 17 in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.
LIMITATIONS:
This study was limited by incomplete data collection, with information about domestic violence available for only 62% of women under the care of mental health services. The questionnaire’s specific phrasing restricted responses to sexual and physical violence, potentially underestimating the overall prevalence of domestic violence by not including psychological, emotional, or financial abuse.
DISCLOSURES:
This study was supported by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership. Some authors reported having various ties with various sources. Details are provided in the original article.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.