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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Aug 7;17(1):288.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-017-1399-7.

Detection of domestic violence by community mental health teams: a multi-center, cluster randomized controlled trial

Roos E Ruijne  1 , Louise M Howard  2 , Kylee Trevillion  2 , Femke E Jongejan  3 , Carlo Garofalo  4 , Stefan Bogaerts  4   5 , Cornelis L Mulder  3 , Astrid M Kamperman  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Detection of domestic violence by community mental health teams: a multi-center, cluster randomized controlled trial

Roos E Ruijne et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) is associated with a range of psychosocial and mental health problems. Having a psychiatric illness increases likelihood of being a victim of DVA. Despite the evidence of a high risk for DVA and the serious effects of violent victimization in psychiatric patients, detection rates are low and responses are inadequate. The aim of the BRAVE (Better Reduction trough Assessment of Violence and Evaluation) study is to improve detection of and response to DVA in psychiatric patients. In this article, we present the protocol of the BRAVE study which follows the SPIRIT guidelines.

Methods: The BRAVE study is a cluster randomized controlled trial. We will include 24 community mental health teams from Rotterdam and The Hague. Twelve teams will provide care as usual and 12 teams will receive the intervention. The intervention consists of 1) a knowledge and skills training for mental health professionals about DVA, 2) a knowledge and skills training of DVA professionals about mental illness, 3) provision and implementation of a referral pathway between community mental health and DVA services. The follow up period is 12 months. Our primary outcome is the rate of detected cases of recent or any history of DVA in patients per team in 12 months. Detection rates are obtained through a systematic search in electronic patient files. Our secondary aims are to obtain information about the gain and sustainability of knowledge on DVA in mental health professionals, and to obtain insight into the feasibility, sustainability and acceptability of the intervention. Data on our secondary aims will be obtained through structured in depth interviews and a questionnaire on knowledge and attitudes on DVA.

Discussion: This study is the first cluster randomized controlled trial to target both male and female psychiatric patients that experience DVA, using an intervention that involves training of professionals. We expect the rate of detected cases of DVA to increase in the intervention teams. With early detection of victimization of DVA in psychiatric patients we hope to improve the mental health of psychiatric patients in the short and long term.

Trial registration: ISRCTN:14115257 . Date of registration: 15th January 2015.

Keywords: Community mental health teams; Detection; Domestic violence; Intervention; Outpatient; Patients; Psychiatry; Randomized clinical trial; Victimization.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ information

Roos E. Ruijne, MD, PhD candidate, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Roos E. Ruijne is the project’s PhD candidate. Louise M. Howard, MD, PhD, NIHR Research Professor; Professor in Women’s Mental Health Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, King’s College London, The United Kingdom. Kylee Trevillion, PhD, Programme manager for ESMI study, King’s College London, The United Kingdom. Femke E. Jongejan, MSc, Research Assistant BRAVE study, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Carlo Garofalo, PhD, Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg school of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, The Netherlands. Stefan Bogaerts, PhD, Professor at Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands and Fivoor/FPC Kijvelanden, Poortugaal, the Netherlands. Cornelis L. Mulder, MD, PhD, Professor public mental health, Erasmus Medical Center, department of Epidemiological and Social Research Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Astrid M. Kamperman, PhD, Assistant professor department of psychiatry and public mental health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study is approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of the Erasmus MC Rotterdam. Reference number: MEC 2015–409.Participants will be asked for informed consent in written form.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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