(PS10-A10) How to Select a Measure of Intimate Partner Violence Based on a Systematic Review of Measures

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is assessed in many ways by mental health and medical professionals. The validity of the assessment instrument impacts practitioners' ability to judge risk, protect potential victims, and intervene effectively. The purpose of this poster is (1) to present a comprehensive review of measures used to identify or predict IPV and (2) to make recommendations for practitioners on which measures to choose in which situations.

We identified 87 measures of IPV varying in length, intended purpose, and format. We describe each measure's reliability, validity, and ratings based on the COSMIN-revised criteria. We then produced a list of recommended measures based on these ratings and other requirements for a well-validated a measure. These requirements included that a measure must have been tested in multiple validation studies using different methods and samples, both the reliability and the validity of the measure must have been studied, researchers unaffiliated with the developers of the measure must have completed one of the studies, and the COSMIN ratings must have been positive for at least half of the validation studies.

Of the 87 measures we originally identified, 18 met the requirements listed and are presented as recommended measures. These measures can be grouped into five categories: (1) brief screening instruments, (2) measures of severity or that identify high risk cases, (3) measures of criminal recidivism, (4) measures of constructs and attitudes related to violence without overtly asking about violent behaviors, and (5) measures of specific types of abuse.

            In order to used assessments for effective evidence-based practice, we present the pros and cons of using different measures based on their scientific validity evidence, the clinical knowledge you are seeking to gain through using the measure, and patient characteristics, including cultural factors. We present recommendations regarding which measures to use for perpetrators vs. victims, which measures to use with specific cultural groups and LGBTQ+ populations, and which measures provide information about specific types of abuse. We also review broad recommendations for clinicians on how and when to evaluate IPV.