Risk of intimate partner homicide and post-traumatic stress disorder among victims of intimate partner violence

Historically, research on intimate partner violence (IPV) has assumed that the severity of violence is the best indicator for risk of intimate partner homicide (IPH). However, recent research has found multiple risk factors associated with a woman's risk of IPH, in addition to severity of violence. It is currently unknown how these risk factors may collectively impact victims. Research has demonstrated significant relationships among severity of IPV and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, to date, no research has explored the relationship between risk of IPH and PTSD symptoms. Accordingly, this study sought to explore this relationship. The sample was ethnically diverse and consisted of 107 females residing in three New York City domestic violence shelters. In order to assess their risk of IPH, participants completed the Danger Assessment (DA). Participants also completed the Impact of Events Scale (IES), which measured overall levels of PTSD symptoms, as well as, three symptom clusters: avoidance behaviors, intrusive thoughts, and hyperarousal. Preliminary correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships among risk of IPH and overall PTSD symptoms (p<.05), avoidance behaviors (p<.01) and hyperarousal (p<.01). Interestingly, risk of IPH was not significantly correlated with intrusive thoughts. Lastly, a MANOVA revealed significant differences in the levels of PTSD symptom clusters among categorical levels of risk (variable, increased, severe, extreme). These findings suggest that the degree in which victims experience risk of IPH may not only impact whether they experience PTSD symptoms, but also the type of PTSD symptoms they experience, which may be useful in clinical interventions.