Prevalence and Characteristics of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women with Severe Mental Illness: A Prevalence Study in Spain

This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of intimate partner violence (IPV) towards women with a severe mental illness (SMI). The sample consisted of 142 adult women with SMI treated in public mental health services in three districts of Madrid (Spain). The prevalence of IPV in the 12 months preceding the interview was 30.3 % and over the lifespan was 79.6 %. 32.7 % of women victims of violence do not qualify themselves as battered women. 48.5 % of battered women do not talk about their abusive situation with anyone or come to any resource or service. Women victims of abuse have low social support. Women who have suffered physical abuse in childhood are at 2.22 times higher risk of being victims of IPV in the past year. Mental health professionals identified 50 % of recent abuse cases. This research highlights the extent of IPV experienced by women with SMI.