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01-06-2016 | Original Article

Posttraumatic stress disorder among low-income women exposed to perinatal intimate partner violence

Posttraumatic stress disorder among women exposed to partner violence

Authors: Jennifer C. Kastello, Kathryn H. Jacobsen, Kathleen F. Gaffney, Marie P. Kodadek, Linda C. Bullock, Phyllis W. Sharps

Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health | Issue 3/2016

Abstract

Women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) and other forms of lifetime trauma may be at risk for negative mental health outcomes including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to examine potential predictors of PTSD among low-income women exposed to perinatal IPV. This study analyzed baseline cross-sectional data from 239 low-income pregnant women in the USA who participated in a nurse home visitation intervention between 2006 and 2012 after reporting recent IPV. PTSD was assessed with the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS) in which participants answer questions about the most disturbing traumatic event (MDTE) in their lifetime that affected them the week before the interview. In total, 40 % of the women were identified as having PTSD (DTS ≥40). PTSD prevalence significantly increased with age to nearly 80 % of women ages 30 and older (n = 23). Age was also the strongest predictor of PTSD (p < 0.001). Most participants (65 %) identified non-IPV-related traumas as their MDTEs. Psychological (94 %), physical (82 %), and sexual (44 %) violence were not significantly associated with PTSD status. Despite recent exposure to IPV, most participants identified other traumatic events as more disturbing than IPV-related trauma. Further, the risk for PTSD increased with age, suggesting that the cumulative effect of trauma, which may include IPV, increases the risk for PTSD over a lifetime. Implementing comprehensive screening for trauma during prenatal care may lead to the early identification and treatment of PTSD during pregnancy in a community setting.

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Title: Posttraumatic stress disorder among low-income women exposed to perinatal intimate partner violence
Posttraumatic stress disorder among women exposed to partner violence
Authors: Jennifer C. Kastello
Kathryn H. Jacobsen
Kathleen F. Gaffney
Marie P. Kodadek
Linda C. Bullock
Phyllis W. Sharps
Publication date: 01-06-2016
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 1434-1816
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1102
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0594-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Posttraumatic stress disorder among low-income women exposed to perinatal intimate partner violence

Posttraumatic stress disorder among women exposed to partner violence

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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