A systematic review of mental disorders and perpetration of domestic violence among military populations.

Kylee Trevillion,Gursimran Thandi,Sian Oram,Emma Williamson,Louise M Howard,Rohan Borschmann

doi:10.1007/s00127-015-1084-4

Abstract

Military populations may experience more severe forms of domestic violence than the general population. Although mental disorders are associated with domestic violence perpetration among the general population, it is not clear whether this is the case for military populations. This review aimed to establish the prevalence and odds of domestic violence perpetration among male and female military personnel with mental disorders. Systematic review: searches of eleven electronic databases were supplemented by hand searches, reference screening, citation tracking and expert recommendations. Ten studies were included; nine reporting on partner violence and one on violence against an adult family member. Median prevalence estimates were calculated for partner violence perpetration among male military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); estimates on other disorders were not possible due to lack of data. 27.5% of men with PTSD reported past year physical violence perpetration against a partner and 91.0% reported past year psychological violence perpetration against a partner. Due to limited data, no median estimates could be calculated for female military personnel. Data from individual papers indicate increased odds of past year partner violence perpetration among male and female military personnel with depression; inconsistent findings were reported for risk of partner violence perpetration among male and female military personnel with PTSD. There is some evidence that mental disorders among military personnel are associated with past year domestic violence perpetration, though current data cannot confirm direction of causality. Research is needed to inform the development of interventions targeted to reduce domestic violence perpetration among military personnel.

Highlights

Domestic violence is the use of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse against a current/former intimate partner or adult family member [1]
Median prevalence estimates were calculated for partner violence perpetration among male military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); estimates on other disorders were not possible due to lack of data. 27.5 % of men with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reported past year physical violence perpetration against a partner and 91.0 % reported past year psychological violence perpetration against a partner
Data from individual papers indicate increased odds of past year partner violence perpetration among male and female military personnel with depression; inconsistent findings were reported for risk of partner violence perpetration among male and female military personnel with PTSD

Summary

Introduction

Domestic violence is the use of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse against a current/former intimate partner or adult family member [1]. Risk factors for domestic violence perpetration among military personnel, limited, appear to be similar to the general population [13]. They include witnessing and experiencing abuse in childhood, previous violence victimization and perpetration, social deprivation and substance misuse [14]. Associations between combat stress and perpetration of domestic violence are, found to be partly mediated by the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [20, 23] These findings are noteworthy as evidence suggests around 15–20 % of military personnel report symptoms of PTSD, anxiety or depression following deployment [24]. The extent to which mental disorders across the diagnostic spectrum are associated with domestic violence perpetration in the military is not yet known

Methods

Results

Conclusion