DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT .1. 2 CASE-CONTROL STUDIES OF VICTIMS

The object of this study was to compare the diagnoses and characterist ics of self-reported domestic violence victims with a random sample of nonvictim controls who were selected from attendees at the Emergency Department (ED) of a major public hospital in Australia. Comparisons w ere made at index presentation and for the 5 years prior to index pres entation. Subjects were drawn from two screening studies carried out 1 year apart which were conducted to assess the prevalence of domestic violence among attendees at the ED. From these groups, the medical rec ords of all individuals who had disclosed domestic violence were exami ned and compared with the medical records of a random sample of nondis closers, matched for age (+/-10 years), sex, and type of entry into th e ED (acute vs nonacute). The two case-control studies, conducted 12 m onths apart, showed that there were statistically significant differen ces between the diagnoses and characteristics of victims and nonvictim s. Victims made more visits to the ED and Outpatients' Department than nonvictims; victims had more psychiatric index presentations; more vi ctims had evidence of treatment of psychiatric conditions, both as inp atients and outpatients, in the previous 5 years than nonvictims; vict ims had greater rates of attempted suicide and alcohol problems than n onvictims at index presentation and for the previous 5 years. The find ings indicate the need for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric conditions of domestic violence victims, including drug and alcohol p roblems and suicidal ideation. The findings form the basis of hypothes es for further studies to investigate the association between domestic violence and psychiatric illness. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.