A Concern For Health Care Providers

How can a health care provider tell if a person is a victim of Domestic violence? One important way that health care providers can identify domestic violence is by routine screening of all patients. Domestic violence has indicators:

Physical Indicators

* History of recurrent injuries, particularly to the head, neck, torso, breasts, abdomen or genitals

* Unexplained or inconsistently explained injuries

* Delay in seeking treatment

* Physical injury during pregnancy, especially on the breast or abdomen

* Chronic pain symptoms with no evident cause

* Presence of a partner who seems overly protective or controlling

Behavioral Indicators

* Depression

* Thoughts of suicide

* Anxiety and/or panic attacks

* Sleeplessness

* Alcohol/substance abuse problems