Psychiatr Prax 2011; 38 - P59_TP
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1277924

The response of mental health services to domestic violence

K Trevillion 1, D Rose 1, G Feder 2, C Morgan 1, A Woodall 1, L Howard 1
  • 1Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
  • 2Academic Unit of Primary Health Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK

Background/Objectives: Numerous international policy guidance recommends that mental health professionals routinely enquire about patient experiences of violence and abuse. However, it is not yet known if such an enquiry is acceptable to service users and professionals or how professionals respond to disclosures of abuse. Therefore, the Linking Abuse and Recovery through Advocacy (LARA) study aims to explore acceptability of routine enquiry and experiences of responding to domestic violence from the perspectives of mental health service users and professionals.

Methods: A qualitative study design was used to recruit participants for individual interviews. Purposive sampling of 24 community mental health service users and 25 mental health professionals in a UK London borough was conducted. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was employed to establish super-ordinate and sub-ordinate themes, which were transformed into conceptual maps.

Results: All service users considered routine enquiry of domestic violence in mental health settings to be acceptable, but a small minority of professionals did not. Service users described both positive and negative experiences of mental health services. Positive experiences included receiving emotional support, assistance with safety needs and information on support services. Negative experiences included limited practical and emotional support and judging or dismissive responses from professionals. The main themes for professionals included difficulties in assessment and management of domestic violence and unclear referral pathways.

Discussion/Conclusions: In order to respond to the complex needs of mental health service users experiencing domestic violence professionals need to receive education and training on how to identify and respond to abuse. Moreover, mental health services should identify a clear care pathway of response.

Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit Programme.

Keywords: Patient-centered integrated care, domestic violence, community mental health services.