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Intimate Partner Violence: How Does it Impact Major Depressive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among Immigrant Latinas?

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Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is prevalent in the general US population, as well as the Latino community. In a cross-sectional study at an immigrant, primary care clinic, we assessed the correlation between IPV history and symptoms of MDD and PTSD in Latino women. We used a structured interview format. Among the 105 women recruited, the 4-week incidence of MDD was 45.7% and the prevalence of PTSD was 19%. Abused women had three times the odds of meeting PTSD criteria than non-abused women. Women meeting PTSD criteria were 10 times likelier to also report MDD. There was no difference in the incidence of MDD among women who reported IPV and those who did not. This study found a correlation of IPV with PTSD, and PTSD with MDD, but not IPV with MDD. Our results indicate a need for mental health interventions in primary care settings for Latina women regardless of IPV history.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was made possible by a grant from the Emory Medical Care Foundation. This study was presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine’s annual meeting, Los Angeles, CA, April 2006. Dr. Paranjape was supported by the Emory Mentored Clinical Research Scholars Program (NIH/NCRR K12 RR 017643).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    K. Fedovskiy

  2. Division of General Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    S. Higgins & A. Paranjape

Authors
  1. K. Fedovskiy
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  2. S. Higgins
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  3. A. Paranjape
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Fedovskiy.

Additional information

Author Contributions are as follows:

Dr. Kaney Fedovskiy: Interpretation of the data and manuscript preparation.

Dr. Paranjape: Paper concept, analysis, interpretation of the data and manuscript preparation.

Dr. Stacy Higgins: Manuscript preparation.

Appendix A

Appendix A

Index of spouse Abuse. Copyright c Sally R. McIntosh and Walter W. Hudson, 1978

  1. 1.

    My partner belittles me (makes me feel unimportant or small).

  2. 2.

    My partner demands obedience to his/her/whims (demands that I do everything that he/she says).

  3. 3.

    My partner becomes surly (rude, mean) and angry if I tell him/her that he/she is drinking too much.

  4. 4.

    My partner makes me perform sex acts that I do not enjoy or like.

  5. 5.

    My partner becomes very upset if dinner, housework or laundry is not done when he/she thinks it should be done.

  6. 6.

    My partner is jealous and suspicious of my friends.

  7. 7.

    My partner punches me with his/her fists.

  8. 8.

    My partner tells me I am ugly and unattractive.

  9. 9.

    My partner tells me I really couldn’t manage or take care of myself without him/her.

  10. 10.

    My partner acts like I am his/her personal servant.

  11. 11.

    My partner insults or shames me in front of others.

  12. 12.

    My partner becomes very angry if I disagree with his/her point of view.

  13. 13.

    My partner threatens me with a weapon.

  14. 14.

    My partner is stingy in giving me enough money to run our home.

  15. 15.

    My partner belittles me intellectually (makes me feel like I’m not smart).

  16. 16.

    My partner demands that I stay home to take care of the children.

  17. 17.

    My partner beats me so badly that I must seek (get) medical help.

  18. 18.

    My partner feels that I should not work or go to school.

  19. 19.

    My partner is not a kind person.

  20. 20.

    My partner does not want me to socialize (get together) with my friends.

  21. 21.

    My partner demands sex whether I want it or not.

  22. 22.

    My partner screams and yells at me.

  23. 23.

    My partner slaps me around my face and head.

  24. 24.

    My partner becomes abusive (is mean or mistreats me) when he/she drinks.

  25. 25.

    My partner orders me around.

  26. 26.

    My partner has no respect for my feelings.

  27. 27.

    My partner acts like a bully towards me.

  28. 28.

    My partner frightens me.

  29. 29.

    My partner treats me like a dunce (like I’m stupid).

  30. 30.

    My partner acts like he/she would like to kill me.

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Fedovskiy, K., Higgins, S. & Paranjape, A. Intimate Partner Violence: How Does it Impact Major Depressive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among Immigrant Latinas?. J Immigrant Minority Health 10, 45–51 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-007-9049-7

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