Intimate partner violence: a clinical review of screening and intervention

One in four American women will be physically assaulted or raped by an intimate partner during her lifetime. Such exposure has wide-ranging health effects. Abused women have an increased risk of cardiac, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, musculoskeletal, neurologic and psychological complaints. They also have a greater utilization of medical services and are more likely to access outpatient primary care and specialty care, emergency departments and mental health and substance abuse services than women without a history of partner violence. Most major US medical organizations recommend routine screening of all women for partner abuse. Offering abused women empathy and validation along with referral to local resources is encouraged. Physicians should also document the abuse in the victim's medical record.