Health Needs of Survivors of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is not over when the victim is safe and out of harm's way. It's not over until justice has been served. Even then, it's not over. It's not over until the victim is safe, justice has been served, and the victim is well.

Consider these facts:

• Abuse, especially repetitive abuse, leaves a lasting "impression" on the health, well-being, and post-abuse functioning of the victim. This impact lingers long after the bruises fade, the bones mend, and the abuse is over.
• Victims of violence seek healthcare more often than non-victims. The severity of victimization is a powerful predictor of the healthcare costs generated by these victims.
• Most healthcare visits by victims of domestic violence are not domestic violence patients presenting with injuries, but rather medical problems that seemingly are not related to current or past injuries.

The health effects of violence can reach across the life span. Studies have now shown that adults who were abused in childhood vs. those who were not have more:

• Infectious diseases
• Mental health disorders
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Dermatitis
• Asthma
• Allergy
• Acne
• Abnormal menstrual bleeding
• More heath-threatening behaviors such as smoking, the use of alcohol, driving while intoxicated, avoiding regular gynecological examinations, not wearing seat belts, sedentary lifestyle, and high-risk sexual encounters.

The abuse sustained in an intimate partner relationship does not have to be physical to cause poor health. Intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) can take several forms: physical abuse, verbal abuse, and forced sex. When Dr. Ann Coker and her colleagues looked at domestic violence in a large series of patients, they found that approximately 14% of domestic violence victims have only been victimized psychologically, not physically. These victims had higher rates of numerous medical problems that the non-abused do not have. Among them:

• Disability that prevented working
• Arthritis
• Chronic pain
• Migraine and other frequent headaches
• Stammering
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Stomach ulcers
• Frequent indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation.

These findings pose an interesting question: Do victims of psychological abuse have fewer or more health problems than victims of physical violence? Dr. Coker and her colleagues found that "psychological IPV was as strongly associated with the majority of adverse health outcomes as was physical IPV." The old childhood taunt of "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me," is wrong, wrong, wrong. And now we have research to support the idea that it's wrong.

Survivors of domestic violence or IPVA will tell you that life after abuse is never the same. Some experience insomnia, multiple aches and pains, problems with concentration, intrusive thoughts, fatigue, and irritability. Any one of these can interfere with effective functioning and set the stage for depression and even despair.

Violence and abuse of all forms is complex and the resulting health effects are interwoven. No single approach cures all. Medical help for domestic violence victims and survivors exists but is scattered. Appropriate care is often difficult to find and access, but it can be done. Healthcare providers and survivors must learn to work together to secure the best state of health possible for survivors of domestic violence.

My recent book on using expressive writing to help resolve lingering health issues offers one way to give aid to survivors and their supporters. You can read a summary about the book at website http://healthaftertrauma/

© Copyright Ellen Taliaferro, MD 2005. All rights reserved. . You have permission to publish part or all of this article electronically or in print, in your newsletter, on your website, or in your e-book, as long you maintain the hyperlinks in the article and include the following information: "Written by Ellen Taliaferro, MD, author, speaker, and expert witness. Dr T. can be contacted through http://www.healthaftertrauma.com. A copy of your reprint or publication would be appreciated.

---

Vioxx Recall leads to Vioxx Lawsuits

Vioxx is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammagory drug (NSAID) that reduces inflammation,... Read More

Resperate or RESPeRATE - this device controls blood pressure however you spell it!

Resperate is natural and powerful and it puts you in... Read More

Who Else Wants General Information on Arthritis?

Today there are about 70 million Americans with arthritis?that's one... Read More

Common Drugs and Their Uses

The five drugs that are discussed in this article are... Read More

The Truth about C Reactive Protein and Cholesterol Lowering Drugs

You might disagree, but hear me out on this...The drug... Read More

Cetyl Myristoleate Seperating Fact From Fiction

I am a strong believer in Cetyl Myristoleate for the... Read More

Chicago Drug Rehab: Long Term Help For a Real Recovery

The central location of the city of Chicago has made... Read More

You Are Getting Very Sleepy....The Truth about Hypnosis

A hypnotic "trance" is not something that is foreign to... Read More

How To Save Money On Prescription Medications

If you are a regular user of prescription medications, you... Read More

Bextra Withdrawal Could Be Just the Beginning for Pfizer

The pharmaceutical industry is a tremendously profitable one, as anyone... Read More

Lunesta Memory Problems

Lunesta may be the only sleeping pill that is FDA... Read More

Kids and Medication Part II

In continuation of mood enhancement drugs for kids and adolescents,... Read More

Lunesta Withdrawal

Lunesta is a newly released sleeping pill. Marketed as a... Read More

An Addition For Practitioners - How to Help Your Patients and Your Practice

Please feel free to comment, so I may modify this... Read More

Another Cold Sore! Why Me?

An estimated 85 million Americans have acquired the herpes simplex... Read More

Blood Pressure Treatment: High and Low Blood Pressure Tips and Medication!

High blood pressure is on the rise worldwide. But, doctors... Read More

Patient Communication: Picking Up Where Medicine Leaves Off

We've all seen patients who were far beyond the reach... Read More

?Ooohhh? my aching knee!!!? Insider Secrets on How You Can Get Relief Quickly and Easily!

When your knee hurts, getting relief is all that's on... Read More

Why Drug Companies are Naughty and 5 Remedies to Cure the Symptoms

With the hum of the election campaign and the debate... Read More

Emotional Effects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome sufferers often find that they have to... Read More

Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine, over 2000 years old, is an ancient form... Read More

Serzone Side Effects Lead to Serzone lawsuits

Serzone is a prescription medication that is given to patients... Read More

?Get Rid of Tendonitis ? Now!? Advice From An Expert?

Tendons are ropes of fibrous tissue that connect muscles to... Read More

Be Informed About The Medications You Take

The recent withdrawal of the prescription drugs Vioxx and ... Read More

Taking The Sting Out Of Bug Bites

(NC)-In most cases insect bites are harmless and if left... Read More

Online Pharmacies Are Becoming Increasingly Popular Due To Their Convenience And Discreetness

Leading online pharmacy companies are providing consumer with a secure,... Read More

Orthotics: Prefab or Custom-Made?

If you take a simple stroll down the foot product... Read More

To Buy Pain Meds Online, a Dangerous Move

Many people want to buy pain meds online simply because... Read More

The Medical Community Changes Its Mind

How many of us have taken aspirin or a similar... Read More

Cetyl Myristoleate for Arthrtis: Science or Speculation

There are a lot of fabulous stories about Cetyl Myristoleate... Read More

Increasing Patient Care and Reducing Liability in Seven Simple Steps

When an unconscious patient arrives in the ED, every hospital... Read More

The Check Doctor Credentials Theory

In 2003, there where more than 890 million doctor visits... Read More

Toenail Fungus: Treatment and Prevention

A thick, yellowish nail with splotchy white areas is a... Read More