Transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) em mulheres vítimas de violência praticada por parceiro íntimo

Abstract

Violence against women is considered a public health problem due to serious physical and mental consequences it produces, such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Objectives: To investigate the relationship between PTSD and violence against women by intimate partners, with emphasis on victims served by psychology sector in Juiz de Fora DPOF (Precinct Guidance and Family Protection). The specific objectives are: to find out the prevalence of PTSD in IPV cases cited above, to describe the frequency of factors such as: history of violence in the primitive family, previous victimization, type of violence, use of alcohol and drugs by the partner, as well as the time of exposure to the traumatic event in the studied group; to verify the association between perceived social support, depression and PTSD. Methods: The study is cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive and associative. The sample consists of 41 female victims of intimate partner violence, who resorted to DPOF the first half of 2013. The following instruments applied were: Structured interview, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist- Civilian Version (PCL-C), Perceived Social Support Scale (EPSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-I). Results: From the trace of the symptoms of PTSD, we obtained the prevalence of disorder possible cases in 82,9% of the women interviewed. There was a positive association between depression and PTSD, and negative association between PTSD and perceived social support. Conclusions: The study points to the need to create specific intervention strategies for women victims of IPV, given the high prevalence of this disorder. We must especially perform projects in the legal bodies to protect women in order to strengthen their social support to face adverse situations related to the aggression.