The VAMHN has teamed up with the Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Journal to develop a state-of-the-art series of papers on violence & women's health. The series aims to present novel findings on this topics through reviews and original papers, presenting these in the context of new challenges in the field and directions for future research. Have a look below to view the papers that have been published so far as part of this series, or view them on the journal's website here.
To read the Editorial for the series, written by VAMHN lead Prof. Louise Howard, click here.
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Respect for the journey: a survivor-led investigation of undergoing psychotherapy assessment
Alison Faulkner, Katie Kelly, Sarah Gibson, Steve Gillard, Lana Samuels & Angela Sweeney Psychotherapy assessments are key decision points for both clients and services, carrying considerable weight on both sides. Limited research indicates that assessments have immediate and long-term impacts on clients, particularly where trauma has been experienced, affecting engagement with therapy. Understanding assessments from clients’ perspectives can inform service development and improve client experience. This is a survivor-led exploration of clients’ experiences of undergoing assessment for talking therapies. The findings highlight the heightened emotional power surrounding psychotherapy assessments, reflecting the journey participants had undertaken to reach this point. The dilemma facing clients at the heart of an assessment—how much to share and how much to withhold—demonstrates the importance for services and assessors of treating the journey a client has made to the assessment with care and respect. Findings indicate the value of services and practitioners undertaking a trauma-informed approach to assessment encounters. Link to paper: click here Correction: click here Commentary by Pam Miller: click here |
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Sex differences in experiences of multiple traumas and mental health problems in the UK Biobank cohort
Emma Yapp, Tom Booth, Katrina Davis, Jonathan Coleman, Louise M. Howard, Gerome Breen, Stephani L. Hatch, Matthew Hotopf & Siân Oram Experiences of reported trauma are common and are associated with a range of mental health problems. Sex differences in how reported traumas are experienced over the life course in relation to mental health require further exploration. There are sex differences in how reported traumatic experiences co-occur across a lifespan, with females at the greatest risk. However, reporting either sexual violence or multiple types of trauma was associated with increased odds of mental health problems for both males and females. Findings emphasise the public mental health importance of identifying and responding to both men and women’s experiences of trauma, including sexual violence. Link to paper: click here Commentary by Emily Reynolds: click here |
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Research, education and capacity building priorities for violence, abuse and mental health in low- and middle-income countries: an international qualitative survey
Roxanne C. Keynejad, Abigail Bentley, Urvita Bhatia, Oliva Nalwadda, Fikru Debebe Mekonnen, Parveen A. Ali & Julie McGarry Despite the World Health Organization and United Nations recognising violence, abuse and mental health as public health priorities, their intersection is under-studied in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). International violence, abuse and mental health network (iVAMHN) members recognised the need to identify barriers and priorities to develop this field. Informed by collaborative discussion between iVAMHN members, we conducted a pilot study using an online survey to identify research, education and capacity building priorities for violence, abuse and mental health in LMICs. The intersection between violence, abuse and mental health in LMICs is a priority for individuals with a range of expertise across health, social care and the voluntary sector. There is interest in and support for building a strong network of parties engaged in research, service evaluation, training and education in this field. Networks like iVAMHN can act as hubs, bringing together diverse stakeholders for collaboration, co-production and mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and skills. Link to paper: click here Commentary by Hanna Kienzler: click here |
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Receiving threatening or obscene messages from a partner and mental health, self-harm and suicidality: results from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey
Sally McManus, Paul E. Bebbington, Leonie Tanczer, Sara Scott & Louise M. Howard Threatening or obscene messaging is repeated, unwanted texts, emails, letters or cards experienced by the recipient as threatening or obscene, and causing fear, alarm or distress. It is rarely examined as an aspect of intimate partner violence. We describe the prevalence of exposure to threatening/obscene messaging from a current or ex-partner; characteristics of victims; and associations with other forms of violence and abuse, mental disorder, self-harm, and suicidality. Threatening/obscene messaging commonly occurs in the context of intimate partner violence. While often occurring alongside sexual and physical violence, messaging has an additional association with mental disorder and suicidality. Routine enquiry in service settings concerning safety, including those working with people who have escaped domestic violence, should ask about ongoing contact from previous as well as current partners. This should include asking about messaging, as well as other forms of potentially technology-enabled abuse which may become increasingly common. Link to paper: click here |
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Medium-term health and social outcomes in adolescents following sexual assault: a prospective mixed-methods cohort study
Venetia Clarke, Andrea Goddard, Kaye Wellings, Raeena Hirve, Marta Casanovas, Susan Bewley, Russell Viner, Tami Kramer & Sophie Khadr To describe medium-term physical and mental health and social outcomes following adolescent sexual assault, and examine users’ perceived needs and experiences. Adolescents presenting after sexual assault have high levels of vulnerability over a year post-assault. Many remain at risk for mental health disorders, highlighting the need for specialist intervention and ongoing support. A key concern for young people is disruption to their education. Multi-faceted support is needed to prevent social exclusion and further widening of health inequalities in this population, and to support young people in their immediate and long-term recovery. Link to paper: click here Commentary by Migita M. D'Cruz and Prabha D. Chandra: click here Commentary by McTavish and MacMillan: click here |
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Past-year intimate partner violence perpetration among people with and without depression: an individual participant data (IPD) meta-mediation analysis
Katherine R. K. Saunders, Sabine Landau, Louise M. Howard, Helen L. Fisher, Louise Arseneault, Geraldine F. H. McLeod & Sian Oram To investigate whether (1) depression is associated with increased risk of past-year intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, disaggregated by sex, after controlling for potential confounders; (2) observed associations are mediated by alcohol misuse or past-year IPV victimisation. Mental health services, criminal justice services, and domestic violence perpetrator programmes should be aware that depression is associated with increased risk of IPV perpetration. Interventions to reduce IPV victimisation might help prevent IPV perpetration by women. Data collection on mental disorder and IPV perpetration should be strengthened in future population-based surveys, with greater consistency of data collection across surveys, as only four studies were able to contribute to the meta-mediation analysis. Link to paper: click here |