The Ubiquitous Clinical Problem of Adult Intimate Partner Violence: The Need for Routine Assessment.

Abstract

Mental health providers need to know that the problem of intimate partner violence (IPV) is ubiquitous--that is, seemingly everywhere at once--within populations that access health care services. Because IPV is a gendered phenomenon where women predominantly tend to be victimized and because women tend to access psychological services at higher rates than men, there is an increased probability that victims of IPV will access services. Without this awareness, diagnostic procedures may be inaccurate, and providers may not intervene to reduce lethality if IPV is not evaluated as part of routine assessment procedures. This article provides concrete procedures for IPV screening and assessment in order to adequately address the problem and also presents initial safety-planning strategies.