Psychometric Properties of the Dissociative Partner Violence Scale

The aim of this project was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Dissociative Partner Violence Scale. The DPVS was designed to measure the depersonalization, derealization, and amnestic factors of dissociation as these occur specifically during the perpetration of partner violence. Research has shown a correlation between dissociation and the frequency of partner violence (Simoneti, Scott, & Murphy, 2000). Data from 243 men presenting for services at a community-based domestic violence counseling center in Maryland were utilized. Self-report measures and recorded follow-up interviews were utilized in the study. The DPVS did not possess adequate content validity as evaluated by the follow-up interviews. This study did however produce evidence that a small percentage of individuals report apparently valid violence-specific dissociative experiences occurring during the perpetration of intimate partner-violence. Implications for treating these individuals may differ from the status quo, in that they may benefit from clinical efforts to process past violence-based trauma. Interestingly, the interviews suggest that dissociative-violence may be linked both to past violent acts perpetrated by the individuals themselves and to past childhood violence exposure or victimization