An Exploration of Emergency Healthcare Provision When Intimate Partner Abuse Is Identified

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Trauma-Informed Care

Background:

• Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a global health issue with significant psychological impacts.
• Victim-survivors frequently present to emergency departments (EDs) with mental health symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize global evidence on addressing psychological concerns of women experiencing DFV in EDs.
• To identify research gaps and propose future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Discursive paper utilizing authors' clinical experience and research.
• Critical synthesis of current literature on managing DFV victim-survivors with psychological symptoms in the ED.
• Systematic search of academic databases and grey literature, with narrative synthesis of findings.

Main Results:

• ED professionals often fail to identify DFV or offer appropriate support, treating only mental health symptoms.
• Barriers to DFV identification include time constraints, privacy concerns, and inadequate training.
• Trauma-informed support models are recommended to address the psychosocial needs of DFV victim-survivors in the ED.

Conclusions:

• DFV victim-survivors in EDs require treatment that addresses underlying trauma and future risks, not just mental health symptoms.
• Holistic and continuous support from ED professionals is essential for victim-survivors.