Violência doméstica em mulheres com transtornos mentais / Domestic violence in women with mental disorders

Introduction: Domestic violence is that caused by a family member who lives with the victim or has an emotional relationship with her, being identified as a risk factor for various health problems for women, both physical and mental. Objective: Search for the meaning of the experience of domestic violence in women with mental disorders. Method: Qualitative and cross-sectional study, in which 50 women were interviewed during the period they were hospitalized for psychiatric treatment. Results and Discussions: The situation of domestic violence was found in 88% of the interviewed patients; 61.36% suffered physical aggression; in 70.45% of the cases the aggressor was the husband; and 52.27% witnessed another family member also being a victim of domestic violence. Conclusion: Factors such as social vulnerability, emotional dependence, alcoholism and chemical dependence appear to be associated with the dynamics of victims of domestic violence.