Self Defining Memories in Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence.

Self Defining Memories in Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: a Pilot Study.

A recent report by the World Health Organization demonstrated that 30 % of women worldwide have been victims of intimate-partner violence (IPV). IPV is a public health problem thus it seems important to propose relevant care. It is difficult to carry out an effective therapy. Psychological care is based on cognitive abilities but these women have cognitive impairment. Few studies investigated their cognitive dysfunction. Investigators suggest in this study an exploration of the Self Defining Memories (SDM) which can highlight the loss of identity of these women and a new target of therapy.

Intimate partner violence among women is associated to identity problems. Indeed, the victims have a poor self esteem and difficulties to express their own wishes. In this study investigators suggest an analysis of a type of memory, that is known to be essential, to profile an identity functioning: self-defining memories. To date, no study has explored SDM in women with IPV. The characteristics of the SDM in women victims of IPV will be compared to a group of women who has never been diagnosed in this situation. Those memories could be used in therapy. A French adaptation of the questionnaire proposed by Singer & Moffitt (1992) will be used (Berna et al., 2011a, 2011b) for the assessment of SDM.

Four elements will be study: specificity, meaning, content, affect.

The two groups will have two visits:

• the first to verify inclusion criteria and assessed psychotraumatic and depressive symptoms;
• the last to characterize the SDM.

Inclusion Criteria:

For all participants:

• French mother tongue.
• Informed consent.
• Affiliated to social security

For women who are victims of IPV only:

• Having at least two physical aggressions
• To meet criterion A of the diagnosis of PTSD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM (DSM-5) (evaluated using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, MINI)

For women of the control group only:

- None a victim of IPV

Exclusion Criteria:

For all participants:

• Neurological pathology, brain damage.
• History of head trauma with loss of consciousness.
• Severe, progressive somatic pathology
• Psychotherapy in progress
• Taking psychotropic drugs or beta-blockers (because of their potential impact on memory capacity)
• Pregnant or lactating women
• Under a legal regime for the protection of adults

For women who are victims of IPV only:

• Antecedent or presence of PTSD other than that related to IPV
• History or presence of progressive mental disorders (Axis I DSM-5 - evaluated using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, MINI)

For women of the control group only:

History or presence of progressive mental disorders including PTSD (Axis I DSM-5 - evaluated using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, MINI)