Intimate partner violence, complex trauma, and attachment.

Introduction: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is one of the most experienced forms of violence in the female population. It is still unclear which are the main factors that increase the risk of experiencing IPV. Attachment disorganization and a history of complex trauma seem to be risk factors for IPV victimization in adulthood. They also could play a role in the difficulty of estranging oneself from abusive relationships. Most of the studies that have used attachment theory to investigate IPV focused on romantic attachment and only used self-report measures. This study aims to investigate the presence of Complex Trauma in IPV victims and their attachment representations. Method: 30 IPV victims, all women above 18 years old, were recruited in support centres and shelter services and compared to 30 controls. After collecting some anamnestic information, Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) was administered to examine attachment state of mind, and Complex Trauma Questionnaire (ComplexTQ), in the self-report form, was filled out by the subject to investigate the presence and severity of adverse childhood interpersonal experiences. AAI were conducted by two interviewers, then transcribed verbatim and coded by two trained researchers. The coders also filled in the clinician version of ComplexTQ. Results: IPV women showed significantly higher levels of Complex Trauma compared to controls, and they reported a higher frequency of disorganized states of mind. Conclusions: These results show the important role of traumatic experiences and attachment in increasing the risk of experiencing IPV in adulthood and put the basis to develop more suitable interventions, also focused on the recognition of traumatic childhood.