Abstract

HATZENBERGER, Roberta et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder and cognitive impairments in women victims of intimate partner violence. Ciênc. cogn. [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.2, pp. 94-110. ISSN 1806-5821.

Abstract The intimate partner violence against women is a major public health problem of alarming proportions. The purpose of the present investigation was to: (a) assess the presence of symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in women victims of intimate partner violence, (b) identify the presence of symptoms of anxiety and depression and (c) assess impairments in cognitive functions in this sample. In this study, 17 women victims of intimate partner violence were assessed with the following instruments: Screen for Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms (SPTSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Digits, Trail Making Test (TMT), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Memory Assessment Clinics Self-Rating Scale - Short Version (MAC-SV), and structured clinical interview and questionnaire about socio-demographic and health. Results indicate that all research participants met criteria for the diagnosis of PTSD and presented post-traumatic symptoms, supporting the clinical relevance of the disorder. Also in relation to the variables of psychopathology, were observed at severe symptoms of anxiety and mild symptoms of depression. Overall, there were impairments in cognitive functions such as attention, memory and executive functions. Although factors such as lack of control group and the high use of psychotropic medication may limit the generalizability of the results, this study suggests that violence against women perpetrated by an intimate partner is associated with cognitive impairment and psychological distress. © Cien. Cogn. 2010; Vol. 15 (2): 094-110.

Keywords : violence; women; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; PTSD; cognitive impairments.

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