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PRIMARY CARE: Kelsey Hegarty, Jane Gunn, Patty Chondros, and Rhonda Small Association between depression and abuse by partners of women attending general practice: descriptive, cross sectional survey BMJ 2004; 328: 621-624 [Abstract] [Full text]

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Gender bias persists and devalues.

Alfred P J Lake   (29 March 2004)

Women and men affected by intimate partner violence

Gillian Paul, Susan Smith and Jean Long   (6 May 2004)

Gender bias persists and devalues. 29 March 2004
Alfred P J Lake, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Management Glan Clwyd Hospital, LL18 5UJ Send response to journal: Re: Gender bias persists and devalues.	Publications about domestic violence (now perhaps more appropriately termed intimate partner violence) have suffered from gender bias over a very long period and this has limited their usefulness as they have served only to reinforce a stereotype and the entrenched positions of those who, despite the evidence, will not move forward particularly because demonising males is seen as helpful to the anti-family feminist agenda. When the question is asked of women whether they suffer abuse and its consequences then it is hardly surprising to find that men will usually be the abusers. In this study 1257 consecutive female patients were studied. The authors sought to explore an association between depression and different types of abuse with the conclusion that doctors should ask depressed women about their experiences of violence and abuse. How much more credible the study would have been if, in parallel, 1257 consecutive male patients had been dealt with in a similar way allowing the proper outcome that doctors should consider partner abuse in PATIENTS with depression. Abuse, of course, ought to be considered in all its forms (Sexual Violence, Physical Violence Destructive criticism & Verbal abuse, Pressure Tactics, Disrespect, Breaking Trust, Isolation, Harassment, Threats, Denial) to be worthwhile and meaningful. A second paper in the same issue (1) was also biased looking at VICTIMISED female patients and male partners who abuse, oh dear. The accompanying editorial (2) was valuable but, unfortunately, promoted the upcoming ‘reliable estimates’ of only one side of the equation from the WHO reports. 1. Taft A, Broom DH, Legge D. General practitioner management of intimate partner abuse and the whole family: qualitative study. British Medical Journal 2004; 328: 618-21. 2. Ferris LE. Intimate partner violence. British Medical Journal 2004; 328: 595-6. Competing interests: None declared
Women and men affected by intimate partner violence 6 May 2004
Gillian Paul, Research Assistant Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, Susan Smith and Jean Long Send response to journal: Re: Women and men affected by intimate partner violence	Dear Editor, Hegarty et al have found a strong association between depression in women and previous abuse by a partner.1 In his response to this, Dr Lake has drawn attention to the gender bias that can arise if the effects of intimate partner violence are considered in women only.2 We have completed a cross sectional survey looking at the experience of intimate partner violence among women and men attending general practices in Dublin (awaiting publication). We carried out additional analyses looking at the association between depression and the experience of intimate partner violence in both men and women. All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire that included assessment of anxiety and depression using the HAD score.3 The results indicate that both men and women who report having sustained one or more injuries as a result of intimate partner violence are significantly more likely to be depressed and anxious than those without that experience. However, male participants who reported experiencing one or more violent incidents were more likely than female participants to score as depressed (p=0.014) though there was no gender difference in anxiety scores for these respondents. Our results indicate that the recommendations of Hegarty et al, that doctors should consider partner abuse in women with depression, should also apply to men presenting with depression and anxiety. Yours etc Gillian Paul Research Assistant Susan Smith Lecturer in General Practice Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College, Dublin Jean Long Senior Researcher Health Research Board, Dublin 1.Hegarty K, Gunn J, Chondros P, Rhonda S. Association between depression and abuse by partners of women attending general practice: descriptive, cross sectional survey. BMJ 2004;328:621-4. 2. Lake A. Gender bias persists and devalues. BMJ 2004. (Rapid response accessed BMJ. Com. 04 May 2004) 3. Zigmond A, Snaith R. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 1983;67:361-370. Competing interests: None declared