Linking abuse and recovery through advocacy: an observational study. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trevillion, K.; Byford, S.; Cary, M.; Rose, D.; Oram, S.; Feder, G.; Agnew-Davies, R.; Howard, L. M.
• Is Part Of: Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences. Volume 23:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 99
• Page End: 113
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Community psychiatry -- Periodicals; 362.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S2045796013000206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7960

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="sec1"> <title>Aims.</title> <p>High numbers of psychiatric service users experience domestic violence, yet limited interventions exist for these victims. We piloted a domestic violence intervention for community mental health services to explore the feasibility of a future cluster randomized controlled trial.</p> </sec> <sec id="sec2"> <title>Methods.</title> <p>Quasi-experimental controlled design within five Community Mental Health Teams (three intervention and two control teams). The intervention comprised domestic violence training for clinicians' and referral to domestic violence advocacy for service users. Clinicians' (<italic>n</italic> = 29) domestic violence knowledge, attitudes and behaviours were assessed before and 6 months post-training. Service users' (<italic>n</italic> = 34) safety behaviours, unmet needs, quality of life and frequency/severity of abuse were examined at baseline and 3 months follow-up. Process evaluation data were also collected.</p> </sec> <sec id="sec3"> <title>Results.</title> <p>Clinicians receiving the intervention reported significant improvements in domestic violence knowledge, attitudes and behaviours at follow-up (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). Service users receiving the intervention reported significant reductions in violence (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001) and unmet needs at follow-up (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05).</p> </sec> <sec id="sec4"> <title>Conclusions.</title> <p>Interventions comprising domestic violence training for clinicians and referral to domestic violence advocacy may improve responses of psychiatric services. Low rates of identification among teams not receiving training suggest that future trials using service user outcomes are unlikely to be feasible. Therefore, other methods of evaluation are needed.</p> </sec> </abstract>