Solveig Karin Bø Vatnar

• Kristiansen, Susanne Tilke Thon; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan; Dahl, Silje Louise & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2026). Det er ikke alltid det føles bra, men det kan føles riktig: avvergeplikten ved partnervold i krisesenterarbeid. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. ISSN 0809-2052. 29(2), s. 1–15. doi: 10.18261/tfv.29.2.3. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Gjennom intervjuer med ti ansatte ved krisesentre undersøkte vi deres erfaringer med avvergeplikten ved partnervold. Funnene viste at utfordringer kan oppstå når voldsutsatte ikke ønsker at volden meldes til politiet, samtidig som ansatte ved krisesentre opplevde avvergeplikten som en integrert del av sitt profesjonelle ansvar. Plikten kom i mindre grad enn forventet i konflikt med taushetsplikten og krisesentrenes prinsipper. Den ble vurdert som viktig for å bevisstgjøre voldsutsatte om alvoret, styrke risikovurdering og håndtering samt understreke samfunnets ansvar i forebygging av partnervold. Avvergeplikten fremsto som sentral for krisesenterarbeidet både på individ- og samfunnsnivå, men samtidig ble det identifisert utfordringer i samarbeidet med politiet.

• Valenzuela, Ana Bellot; Ørke, Elisabeth Christie; Muñoz-Rivas, Marina & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2026). Cross-Cultural Validity of the CTS-2: Examining Measurement Invariance in IPV Victimization Across Norwegian and Spanish Samples. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. ISSN 0886-2605. doi: 10.1177/08862605261439544. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2) is the most widely used scale for evaluating the severity of intimate partner violence (IPV) across different populations and cultures. The aim was to explore whether the CTS-2 allows for unbiased comparisons of IPV victimization across samples of IPV victims in Spain and Norway. Using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA), measurement invariance was examined in a Spanish sample of 333 female IPV victims and a Norwegian sample of 154 female IPV victims. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance were assessed, and item-level analyses were conducted to identify sources of bias. Results demonstrated configural invariance, indicating that both samples adhered to the same factorial structure. However, metric invariance was not achieved due to two biased items. Item 22, from the Psychological Aggression subscale, showed cultural differences in wording and interpretation, while item 53, from the Injury subscale, exhibited statistical skewness. Adjusting these items resulted in partial metric invariance, allowing cautious mean comparisons. This study underscores the challenges of achieving full measurement invariance in cross-cultural contexts and challenges the hypothesized Nordic paradox. While the CTS-2 remains a valid tool, certain subscales, particularly Psychological Aggression, require careful adaptation to account for cultural differences. Furthermore, Spanish participants reported higher levels of most IPV subtypes. Future research should adopt multilevel approaches to address systemic and individual factors affecting IPV. Practitioners should also incorporate cultural nuances into the design of interventions to ensure culturally sensitive IPV assessment and treatment.

• Vølstad, Astrid Gravdal; Douglas, Kevin Stewart; Bjørkly, Stål Kapstø; Brevik, Thea Beate; Nordby, Christine & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2026). Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence: Knowledge Among Intimate Partner Violence Victims. Journal of Family Violence. ISSN 0885-7482. 41, s. 1–15. doi: 10.1007/s10896-025-01042-5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Purpose Mandatory reporting intimate partner violence (MR-IPV) laws require professionals to report or prevent intimate partner violence (IPV). This directly affects individuals subjected to IPV who reach out for help, but there is limited research on whether IPV victims are aware of MR-IPV or are informed about it. The aim of the current study was to examine knowledge about MR-IPV among IPV victims. Methods Data consisted of questionnaire responses from 86 IPV victims. Three aspects of knowledge were investigated: (1) having been informed about MR-IPV by professionals, (2) the IPV victims’ own perceived knowledge and (3) applied knowledge, operationalized as the IPV victims’ evaluations of a hypothetical case. We examined descriptive findings and used multivariate ordinal regression to investigate predictors of the three separate knowledge aspects. Results An equal number reported having (38.8%) and not having (41.2%) been informed about MR-IPV by professionals. One in five reported having been informed to some extent. Recruitment source and origin were predictors of having been informed. Half of the participants reported knowing the MR-IPV law “to some extent,” 31.4% reported not knowing it and 18.6% knew it. Predictors were having been informed about MR-IPV and personal experience with MR-IPV. Participants generally made evaluations of the case that aligned with the law. No consistent predictors for applied knowledge were identified. Conclusions Our findings indicate a need for greater communication about MR-IPV from professionals, which might enable informed decision making and more predictability for IPV victims.

• Linge, Anita Dyb; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Navigating Ethical and Legal Tensions in Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence: Insights from Norwegian Assault Centers. Risk Mangement and Healthcare Policy. 18, s. 3647–3663. doi: 10.2147/rmhp.s541005. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine how health-care professionals in assault centers in Norway navigate biomedical ethical principles, health-care legislation, and the mandatory reporting law when working with victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). The study was guided by the following research questions: How do health-care professionals in assault centers apply the law for mandatory reporting of IPV (MR-IPV)? How do they navigate various factors when they consider applying the MR-IPV law?. Methods: This qualitative, explorative study is built on 12 individual, semi-structured interviews with nurses and medical doctors working at assault centers. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis, with themes developed based on biomedical ethical principles, including relational autonomy. Results: Two main themes were found. First, MR-IPV was perceived as subsequent but parallel to emergency medical treatment. Some participants used risk assessment tools, and they all emphasized the importance of making patients safe following medical treatment. However, only a few acknowledged that their duty to respect the MR-IPV law was a factor in prioritizing patient safety. Second, ethical principles and health-care legislation were recognized more than the MR-IPV law, which created dilemmas for nurses and medical doctors. These actors faced challenges in navigating patients’ autonomy and beneficence in relation to the MR-IPV legislation. Conflicts between patient autonomy and beneficence can lead to paternalistic behavior, which creates ethical dilemmas. Conclusion: The findings show tensions between medical practices and legal and ethical standards, which contributed to hesitation in reporting severe IPV cases to the police. Health-care professionals prioritized therapeutic relationships and patient confidentiality, sometimes at the expense of their responsibilities concerning the MR-IPV law. Addressing these challenges requires enhancing legal literacy and fostering a cultural shift in health care to align professional autonomy with legal requirements and institutional responsibilities.

• Vølstad, Astrid; Douglas, Kevin Stewart; Brevik, Thea Beate; Nordby, Christine & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Perpetrators of intimate partner violence and mandatory reporting laws : the perspectives and experiences of perpetrators who seek help voluntarily compared with those of victims of intimate partner violence. European Journal of Criminology. ISSN 1477-3708. 23(2026)(3), s. 512–538. doi: 10.1177/14773708251365065. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Treatment for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) is a crucial preventive measure for IPV. However, professionals working with IPV perpetrators might be mandated by law to intervene when they suspect future IPV, creating a potential conflict for perpetrators seeking help for their problems. There is limited research on IPV perpetrators’ perspectives on mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence (MR-IPV). We aimed to add to this research by examining knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of MR-IPV among perpetrators who had voluntarily sought help for IPV and comparing them with those of IPV victims recruited from IPV help services. Forty-one IPV perpetrators who voluntarily had sought help from help services answered a questionnaire about MR-IPV. Descriptive statistics were used to examine their knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of MR-IPV. Mann–Whitney U tests, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression were used to compare the IPV perpetrators with 86 victims. Results showed that though the majority of IPV perpetrators reported having been informed about MR-IPV (58.5%), few reported knowing the MR-IPV law (19.5%), though 43.9% reported knowing it to some extent . Only 17.5% had experienced MR-IPV. The IPV perpetrators varied in their perceptions of MR-IPV. More IPV victims had experienced MR-IPV compared to IPV perpetrators, and this difference remained statistically significant when controlling for conceptually informed variables (IPV persistence, IPV severity, and the presence of children), sociodemographic characteristics, and participation mode. Despite a modest sample size, our findings bring new insights concerning voluntarily help-seeking IPV perpetrators’ perspectives on MR-IPV. Our findings suggest that professionals must ensure that information about MR-IPV is adequately understood by IPV perpetrators. Despite the fact that there was a difference between perpetrators and victims in IPV characteristics, this could not account for the difference in MR-IPV experience. This suggests that the MR-IPV law might not be practiced uniformly for IPV perpetrators and victims.

• Linge, Anita Dyb; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan; Dahl, Silje Louise; Kristiansen, Susanne Tilke Thon & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Awareness of mandatory reporting of intimate-partner violence : a thematic analysis of the perspectives of help-seeking victims and perpetrators and service providers in Norway. Journal of Family Violence. ISSN 0885-7482. doi: 10.1007/s10896-025-00916-y. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: To explore the awareness of mandatory reporting of intimate-partner violence (MR-IPV) among help-seeking IPV victims and perpetrators and service providers in Norway. Methods: A qualitative study of IPV service providers (N = 59) and help-seeking IPV victims and perpetrators (IPV victims, N = 10; IPV perpetrators, N = 8) was conducted. Data was collected through semi-structured, open-ended interviews. The analysis was informed by Braun and Clarke’s seven-phase thematic analysis. Results: Despite extensive contact with service providers, most help-seeking IPV victims and perpetrators seemed unaware of MR-IPV. These individuals tended to withhold information about IPV from service providers, due to the fear of the consequences of reporting. This may negatively impact service providers’ ability to fulfill their duties concerning MR-IPV. The majority of service providers perceived MR-IPV solely as a professional duty, and they were unaware that it was an individual duty requiring them to address or prevent IPV after disclosure. This reasoning led to the transfer of responsibility to others. Finally, service providers seemed more familiar with their professional guidelines than with MR-IPV. Conclusion: The Norwegian Penal Code includes MR-IPV as one of the tools to prevent IPV. However, awareness of MR-IPV among help-seeking IPV victims and perpetrators, as well as service providers, is mixed. Also, there are inconsistencies regarding professional laws and guidelines, structural and individual responsibility, and thresholds for MR-IPV. Based on this study’s findings, we recommend increasing knowledge about MR-IPV among service providers and the general population. The wording of Section 196 of the Penal Code should also be changed.

• Vølstad, Astrid Gravdal; Douglas, Kevin Stewart & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence: Examining Predictors and Experiences Among Intimate Partner Violence Victims. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. ISSN 0886-2605. 41(2026)(3-4), s. 889–917. doi: 10.1177/08862605251318273. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence (MR-IPV) is a controversial topic. This study examined the practice of MR-IPV by investigating what factors were associated with MR-IPV experience among victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). The study also investigated the experiences of IPV victims who have experienced MR-IPV, to better understand the consequences of MR-IPV. Eighty-six IPV victims were recruited through help services and administered a questionnaire about their experiences with IPV and MR-IPV. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore statistical predictors of having experienced MR-IPV. Candidate predictors included IPV characteristics and risk factors, sociodemographic/contextual variables, and contact with the help services. IPV severity and persistence were of particular interest, as these define the threshold for whether MR-IPV applies in Norwegian law. IPV victims with MR-IPV experience were asked questions about the experienced consequences of MR-IPV. Neither characteristics of the IPV victimization, risk factors, sociodemographic variables nor contact with the help services were predictive of MR-IPV experience. However, having perpetrated severe psychological aggression was predictive of MR-IPV experience (OR = 4.99). Participants with MR-IPV experience (n = 39) reported both positive and negative consequences of MR-IPV, but generally more positive consequences for themselves. A majority agreed that, overall, they were better off after MR-IPV was used. Our results indicate that the Norwegian MR-IPV law might not be practiced as intended. The consequences of MR-IPV for IPV victims appear complex and warrant further study. However, overall, the use of MR-IPV led to positive reported consequences for the majority of the participants in this study.

• Nordby, Christine; Douglas, Kevin Stewart; Vølstad, Astrid; Brevik, Thea Beate; Bjørkly, Stål Kapstø & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Compliance with mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence among professionals in Norway. BMC Public Health. 25(1), s. 1–26. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22637-z. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Mandatory reporting is a common legislative preventative measure for several types of crimes, among them family violence and specifically intimate partner violence (IPV). Among the individuals who are mandated to report under the law are professionals working with IPV victims and perpetrators in their practice. However, little is known about which characteristics are associated with compliance with the mandatory reporting of IPV (MR-IPV) law, on the one hand, and choosing not to report IPV, on the other. Methods: The current study sampled 357 professionals from 6 different agencies working with IPV victims and/or perpetrators. Six dichotomous outcome variables of compliance with MR-IPV and choosing not to report were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. The independent variables were professionals’ perceptions and knowledge of MR-IPV, context and workplace conditions, and experience with IPV cases and risk assessment. Results: Findings showed that risk of compliance with MR-IPV varied between complying with and without consent. Perceived applicability of MR-IPV for an IPV victim was the only variable that had significantly positively odds ratio for both compliance with and without consent. For choosing not to report, significant variables varied between whether the incident had taken place sometime throughout participants’ careers or during the last year, and whether it concerned a victim or a perpetrator. However, knowledge of MR-IPV, experience with IPV cases, expectations of MR-IPV, perceived workplace time management, and perception of compliance were significant for choosing not to report. Conclusions: Knowledge of the characteristics that are associated with professionals’ compliance with MR-IPV is essential to better understand the application of MR-IPV, to implement practice that is consistent with law, and ultimately to prevent IPV. Further research is needed to explore the context of compliance with MR-IPV.

• Dahl, Silje Louise; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan; Øvrelid, Malene & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2024). Child welfare workers' perceptions of intimate partner violence and mandatory reporting in Norway. Child & Family Social Work. ISSN 1356-7500. 29(4), s. 1076–1085. doi: 10.1111/cfs.13162. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major criminal, social and public health problem. As one effort to prevent IPV and intimate partner homicide, several countries have adopted legislation requiring professionals to disclose IPV to the authorities (commonly referred to as mandatory reporting). The child welfare service (CWS) is centrally positioned for detecting, reporting and preventing IPV, but there is limited empirical knowledge concerning how the service handles IPV cases or of social workers' awareness of mandatory reporting of IPV. Using qualitative interviews, we explore how CWS workers in Norway describe their discretionary space and mandatory obligations towards adults subjected to IPV. Our findings indicate an inexpedient interplay between understandings of professional mandate and individual responsibility and local routines and organisation and insufficient knowledge about IPV and mandatory reporting. We suggest that a reframing of CWS workers' understanding of their discretionary space is needed to ensure that their individual responsibility towards adults subjected to IPV is understood as part of their mandate. This reframing presupposes structural efforts, such as formal training. We propose further investigations concerning how local organisation and routines either facilitate or interfere with systematic and thorough handling of IPV in families with which the municipal CWS meets.

• Myklebust, Kjellaug Klock; Ramstad, Julia Bogen & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2024). Healthcare Professionals’ Documentation in Supported Accommodation for People with Profound Intellectual Disabilities: An Educational Intervention Study. Healthcare. 12(16). doi: 10.3390/healthcare12161606. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Good-quality relationships in which individuals with profound intellectual disabilities (intelligence quotient, IQ < 20–25) are recognized by healthcare professionals (HPs) are essential for the quality of healthcare and promoting autonomy. This study examines the impact of an educational intervention on documentation of the interplay between HP and individuals receiving services in supported accommodation in Norway. An educational intervention study was designed to encourage HPs to document their approaches and interplay. The Scale for the Evaluation of Staff-Patient Interactions in Progress Notes (SESPI) was applied to measure documentation before and after the intervention. Journal notes written over a three-month period before the intervention and a three-month period after the intervention were measured. Prior to the intervention, only 23.1% of the journal notes described the resident’s experiences, increasing by 5.4% (p = 0.041) post-intervention. Practical solutions to individual experiences increased from 0.9% to 8.5% (p < 0.001). The educational intervention demonstrated a significant increase in the documentation of residents’ experiences and the interplay between HPs and residents. Future research should explore the generalizability of these findings. Incomplete documentation of HPs’ relational work conceals important aspects of the healthcare provided, potentially resulting in confining autonomy and participation for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

• Nordby, Christine; Douglas, Kevin Stewart & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2024). Service Providers’ Attitudes Toward Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence: The Impact of Professional Experience. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. ISSN 0886-2605. 40(2025)(23-24), s. 5528–5555. doi: 10.1177/08862605241305145. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Mandatory reporting (MR) among service providers (SP) working with intimate partner violence (IPV) is controversial, and the research is scarce. The potential association of SPs experience with IPV and MR-IPV and their attitudes is the aim of the current study. A total of 374 SPs working with victims and perpetrators (help-seekers) of IPV participated in this study. Factor analysis was conducted to produce a continuous standardized dependent variable as a measure of attitudes toward MR-IPV. Descriptive results indicated that SPs were generally supportive of MR-IPV. Linear regression analyses showed that a higher degree of professional experience with IPV was significantly associated with less skepticism of MR-IPV. The result was significant regardless of (1) severity of violence, (2) category of help-seeker, (3) time of incidents, and (4) number of cases where MR-IPV was considered relevant. Having substantial experience with IPV and MR-IPV remained significant adjusting for the SP category, years in current position, knowledge of MR, and frequency of mandatory reports. Our results indicate that experience is an important part of SPs attitudes toward MR-IPV.

• Myklebust, Kjellaug Klock; Hoemsnes, Helene; Kvello, Øyvind & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2024). Collaboration with clients to create journal notes : a mixed methods evaluation of a pilot intervention study in a municipality mental health services team. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. ISSN 1473-3145. 25(1). doi: 10.1002/capr.12829. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate an intervention designed to encourage therapists in a municipality mental health services team to collaborate with their clients when writing journal notes. The team was part of a low-threshold mental health service for children, adolescents and their parents. The therapists offered individual therapeutic sessions with children, adolescents and parents, as well as family sessions. The therapists documented their encounters in the clients' electronic health records. Methods: The study used a convergent mixed methods design. First, the quality and quantity of documented therapist–client interactions were measured before and after the intervention using the Scale for the Evaluation of Staff-Patient Interactions in Progress Notes (SESPI). Cross-tabulation and logistic regression analyses were used to examine potential differences in the recording of therapists' approaches before and after intervention. Second, we explored the therapists' experiences of participating in this project by conducting individual in-depth interviews. Qualitative interviews were analysed by systematic text condensation. Finally, the quantitative results from assessing the journal notes were contextualised with the qualitative results from the interviews. Results: The number of journal notes describing therapist approach and client response increased by 25% points after the intervention. In the interviews, the therapists acknowledged the intervention's relevance to their practice. However, they invited only a limited number of clients to co-create journal notes. The clients welcomed the invitation. Conclusion: Collaborative documentation challenges established journal documentation practices and may strengthen the client's voice. This study provides suggestions for strengthening the intervention in the future full-scale studies.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Dahl, Silje Louise; Kristiansen, Susanne Tilke Thon; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan; Nordby, Christine & Vølstad, Astrid [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2024). What difference does it make if they have children? : a mixed methods study of the impact of children on service providers’ perception of mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence. Journal of Family Violence. ISSN 0885-7482. 41(2026), s. 621–637. doi: 10.1007/s10896-024-00773-1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: Whether professionals consider children to be an important factor regarding mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence (MR-IPV) remains unknown. In the present study, we examined to what extent the presence of children had an impact on service providers’ decision making when faced with IPV, and the parents’ reported consequences of MR-IPV for the children. Methods: The present study is a mixed methods study combining quantitative (N = 374 service providers and N = 86 IPV victims) and qualitative (N = 59 service providers and N = 10 IPV victims) data in a convergent parallel design. Descriptive analyses and Kruskal- Wallis H-tests from the quantitative data were used. The analytic process for the qualitative analyses was informed by Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Results: The service providers found it easier to set aside confidentiality in IPV cases when the purpose was safeguarding children. The findings indicated some confusion about the difference and interface between the obligation to notify the child welfare service and to report under MR-IPV to the police. IPV victims who had experienced MR-IPV reported mixed consequences for their children. However, more than half reported that their children were better off after the MR-IPV. Conclusions: The recognition of the impact of IPV on children in practice, research and policy-making might lead to some inconsistencies and contradictions in how service providers respond to IPV. Accordingly, service providers must take into account the challenges in situations where MR-IPV might be applicable in order to protect both the child(ren) and the victimized adult from IPV.

• Kristiansen, Susanne Tilke Thon; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan; Dahl, Silje Louise; Linge, Anita Dyb & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2024). Experience with Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence: An Explorative Qualitative Study of Service Providers and Help-Seeking IPV Victims and IPV Perpetrators. Journal of Family Violence. ISSN 0885-7482. 41(2026), s. 1155–1169. doi: 10.1007/s10896-024-00778-w. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: This study explored service providers’ and help-seeking intimate partner violence (IPV) victims’ and IPV perpetrators’ experiences with mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence (MR-IPV) in Norway. We examined the following research questions: How do service providers experience work within the context of MR-IPV? How do help-seeking IPV victims and IPV perpetrators experience MR-IPV? Methods: This qualitative study used reflexive thematic analysis to identify, analyze and report themes and patterns uncovered in semi-structured interviews with 42 service providers and 6 help-seeking IPV victims and IPV perpetrators, following Braun and Clark’s Qualitative Research in Psychology six phases of reflexive thematic analysis. Results: The service providers in this study aimed to establish collaboration with help-seeking IPV victims and IPV perpetrators to avert IPV rather than immediately reporting IPV to the police, thus working within the discretionary space allowed in the Norwegian legislation. Stories concerning breaches of trust related to MR-IPV were prominent in the interviews with both groups of help-seekers. The IPV perpetrators expressed having experienced a breach of trust when the IPV was reported to the police, while most of the IPV victims expressed a breach of trust due to a lack of MR-IPV. Conclusions: IPV victims expressed ambivalence linked to a desire for interventions and a fear of not receiving adequate help. These findings highlight the challenges of certain requirements placed on service providers when working within the MR-IPV context; distinguishing between situations in which collaboration is appropriate and situations in which immediate reporting to the police is required.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Rokicki, Jaroslav; Holst, Øyvind & Friestad, Christine (2024). Lethal and non-lethal violent offences in intimate and non-intimate relationships in Norway between 2016 and 2020. Nordic Journal of Criminology. ISSN 2578-983X. 25(2), s. 1–12. doi: 10.18261/njc.25.2.8. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Although homicide rates have declined in Europe since the 1990s, a parallel decline did not occur in intimate partner homicide (IPH) until the last decade. Recent studies have mostly focused on trends in completed homicide, without considering attempted homicides or serious assault cases. Tracking the cohort from the Norwegian Criminal Investigation Service of lethal and non-lethal violent offences in intimate and non-intimate relationships (2016–2020), we examined trends in homicide, attempted homicide and serious violent offences in intimate and non-intimate relationships. The prevalence and rates of lethal and non-lethal violent offences in intimate (IRR = 0.878, p = 0.007), and non-intimate relationships (IRR = 0.916, p ≤ 0.001) decreased during the period. Though rates varied, measured by Poisson regression the incidence of homicide, IPH, attempted IPH, and aggravated assault remained stable. Incidence of attempted homicide increased (IRR = 1.205, p = 0.002); grievous bodily harm without causing death decreased (IRR = 0.885, p ≤ 0.001). Associations between legally enforceable cases for different violence offenses were not significant when adjusted for multiple comparisons, though there was a moderate negative trend between attempted homicide and grievous bodily harm without causing death (rP = -0.903, p = 0.036 Pearson’s correlation). Examining timelines on lethal and non-lethal violent offenses in intimate and non-intimate relationships helps disaggregate changes to distinct violent offences.

• Brevik, Thea Beate; Laake, Petter; Bjørkly, Stål Kapstø; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2024). An educational intervention study on mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence: changes in knowledge and attitudes among healthcare providers. BMC Medical Education. 24(1). doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06120-8. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern. Healthcare providers can play a crucial role in reporting cases of IPV or suspected IPV injuries to the police or the criminal justice system, commonly referred to as mandatory reporting. However, mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence (MR-IPV) is a debated topic that can pose complex challenges for healthcare providers. This underscores the importance of training programs to ensure that healthcare providers can fulfill their MR-IPV obligations. Methods: We developed an educational intervention on MR-IPV and assessed its impact on healthcare providers’ knowledge and attitudes. The study used a pre- and post-test design with three measurement points: baseline (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1), and six months later (T2). The intervention was conducted at a university college in Norway, with data collected between October 2022 and May 2023. The intervention was delivered to 37 healthcare providers who were currently part-time students in mental healthcare. Changes in knowledge and attitudes between T0 and T1, and T0 and T2 were analyzed through nonparametric tests on related samples using the Marginal homogeneity (Stuart–Maxwell) test. Risk differences (RD), along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI), were calculated for selected categories. Results: The number of participants knowing the MR law increased from 2.9% at baseline to 62.9% at T1 (RD = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.41—0.79) and to 31.4% at T2 (RD = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.11–0.46). The number of participants reporting knowing relevant criteria increased from 0.0% at baseline to 68.6% at T1 (RD = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50–0.87) and to 34.3% at T2 (RD = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.16—0.53). We observed several persistent changes in healthcare providers' attitudes towards MR, including finding MR to be a useful instrument and generally complying with MR requirements. Conclusions: The findings suggest that this educational intervention can have a positive impact on healthcare providers' attitudes and compliance with MR-IPV. Before the intervention, few participants reported knowing the MR law and its application criteria, demonstrating the importance of continuous learning and evidence-based training programs.

• Friestad, Christine; Haukvik, Unn Kristin Hansen; Berit, Johnsen & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2023). Prevalence and characteristics of mental and physical disorders among female prisoners : a mixed-methods systematic review. International Journal of Prisoner Health. ISSN 1744-9200. 19(4), s. 599–627. doi: 10.1108/IJPH-12-2022-0080. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: This study aims to provide an overview and quality appraisal of the current scientific evidence concerning the prevalence and characteristics of mental and physical disorders among sentenced female prisoners. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods systematic literature review. Findings: A total of 4 reviews and 39 single studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Mental disorders were the main area of investigation in the majority of single studies, with substance abuse, particularly drug abuse, as the most consistently gender biased disorder, with higher prevalence among women than men in prison. The review identified a lack of updated systematic evidence on the presence of multi-morbidity. Originality/value: This study provides an up-to-date overview and quality appraisal of the current scientific evidence concerning the prevalence and characteristics of mental and physical disorders among female prisoners. Keywords: childhood abuse, criminal justice system, forensic psychiatry, health in prison, offender health, prison psychiatry

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine & Bjørkly, Stål (2022). Intimate partner homicides in Norway 1990–2020 : an analysis of incidence and characteristics. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. ISSN 0886-2605. 37(23/24), s. NP21599–NP21625. doi: 10.1177/08862605211063508. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is an extreme outcome of intimate partner violence (IPV). It is a societal challenge that needs to be investigated over time to see whether changes occur concerning the incidence of IPH, IPH characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and contact with service providers. This study includes the total Norwegian cohort of IPHs between 1990 and 2019 with a final conviction (N = 224). Poisson regression was applied to model the incidence rate of homicide and IPH between 1990 and 2020 as well as the incidence rates of immigrant perpetrators and victims. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between characteristics and period 1990–2012 compared to after 2012 as dependent variable. The results show that though homicide incidence rates in Norway declined steadily and significantly after 1990, IPH rates did not begin to decline until 2015. The following IPH characteristics showed reduced incidence after 2012: IPH-suicide, perpetrators with a criminal record, and IPHs perpetrated subsequent to preventive interventions towards the perpetrator. Sentence length in IPH cases had increased. Changes were not observed for any of the other IPH characteristics investigated. IPH is often the culmination of long-term violence and can be prevented, even if risk assessment is challenging due to the low base rates. Keywords: intimate partner homicide, intimate partner violence, time changes, incidence rates, risk factor

• Myklebust, Kjellaug Klock; Rønning, Solrun Brenk; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Bjørkly, Stål (2022). Terapeutisk relasjon – en hjørnestein i miljøterapi – hva viser sykepleierapportene? Nordisk sygeplejeforskning. ISSN 1892-2678. 12(3), s. 1–15. doi: 10.18261/nsf.12.3.2. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Bakgrunn og hensikt: Det er faglig enighet om at terapeutiske relasjoner skal være et hovedfundament i miljøterapi i psykisk helsevern. Likevel mangler det forskning på hvordan relasjonelt arbeid dokumenteres. Metode: Denne studien er en kvalitativ og deskriptiv analyse av daglige rapporter i sykepleiedokumentasjon. Vi har undersøkt hvordan miljøpersonalet ved en akuttavdeling i psykisk helsevern dokumenterte inntoning og samspill med pasienter. Et utvalg på 363 rapportutdrag som beskrev pasienters opplevelser ble hentet fra 14 pasientjournaler. Resultat: 94% av rapportene dokumenterte ubehagelige pasientopplevelser og 6% positive pasientopplevelser. Det ble identifisert to hovedkategorier av rapporterte tilnærminger til pasientopplevelsene:Ingen beskrivelse av inntoning og Beskrivelser av forsøk på inntoning. Kun 25% av rapportutdragene beskrev forsøk på inntoning. Majoriteten av tilnærmingene var observasjons- og handlingsorienterte uten at det var lagt vekt på pasientopplevelse og gjensidige samspill. Konklusjon: Videre forskning på sykepleiedokumentasjon bør inkludere miljøpersonalets inntoning og pasientenes medvirkning i rapportskriving. Nøkkelord: inntoning, miljøterapi, psykisk lidelse, sykepleiedokumentasjon, sykepleie-pasient-forhold, terapeutisk relasjon

• Ørke, Elisabeth Christie; Bjørkly, Stål; Dufort, Mariana & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2021). Attachment characteristics among women victimized in no, one, and multiple IPV relationships : a case–control study. Violence against Women. ISSN 1077-8012. 27(15/16), s. 2945–2970. doi: 10.1177/1077801220981157. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This cross-sectional study compared attachment characteristics among women victimized by intimate partner violence (IPV) in no, one, and multiple relationships (N = 154). Results indicated that compared with the nonvictimized, victimized women had increased likelihood of higher attachment avoidance. Compared with women victimized in one relationship, women victimized in multiple relationships had higher likelihood of higher attachment anxiety scores. Adjusting for childhood adversities, childhood sexual abuse was an independent risk factor for IPV. Childhood emotional abuse mediated the association between attachment anxiety and IPV victimization in multiple relationships in particular. Attachment theory appeared useful for better understanding women’s vulnerability for multiple violent relationships. Keywords: intimate partner violence (IPV), multiple partners (MP), attachment, childhood emotional abuse

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine & Bjørkly, Stål (2021). Intimate partner homicide. I Devaney, John; Bradbury-Jones, Caroline; Macy, Rebecca J.; Øverlien, Carolina & Holt, Stephanie (Red.), The Routledge international handbook of domestic violence and abuse. Routledge. ISSN 9780429331053. s. 373–386. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Even though women are far more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than by anyone else, Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH) is an infrequent occurrence, even in at-risk populations. However, the majority of IPHs do not occur without warning signs. Identifying valid risk factors for IPH is fundamental in order to mitigate the risk, and increase the potential to prevent IPH. Authors within the field of intimate partner violence and IPH have called for investigation of “the violence process”, examining the nature of the violent relationship, events and conditions preceding the intimate partner violence episode or an IPH, and motivations and outcomes of these fatal acts. This chapter describes recent research, the latest empirical evidence, and understanding concerning characteristics of and possible risk factors for intimate partner homicide including: (1) previous intimate partner violence, (2) sociodemographic, contextual, and clinical factors, (3) help-seeking prior to IPH, (4) substance use, (5) immigration, (6) IPH-suicide, and (7) differentiating female and male IPH perpetrators.

• Lockertsen, Øyvind; Varvin, Sverre; Færden, Ann & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2020). Short-term risk assessments in an acute psychiatric inpatient setting : a re-examination of the Brøset Violence Checklist using repeated measurements – differentiating violence characteristics and gender. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. ISSN 0883-9417. 35(1), s. 17–26. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2020.11.003. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This study investigated the association between short-term risk assessment measured by the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) and imminent violence using repeated measurements and differentiating violence characteristics and gender. All patients admitted to an acute psychiatric ward during one year (N = 528) were included. Logistic regression and generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analyses were conducted. Results confirmed BVC's suitability for both male and female inpatients throughout their hospitalization also when differentiating threats and physical violence, and adjusting for diagnostic subpopulations and circadian variability. Results point to modified interpretations of the BVC sum scores. Future research should adjust for repeated measurements. Keywords: acute psychiatry, gender, repeated measurements, risk assessment, violence

• Ørke, Elisabeth Christie; Bjørkly, Stål & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2020). IPV characteristics, childhood violence, and adversities as risk factors for being victimized in multiple IPV relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. ISSN 0886-2605. 37(3/4), s. NP1988–NP2011. doi: 10.1177/0886260520933037. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Empirical knowledge regarding risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) from multiple partners (MP) is scarce and sought by clinicians and many women themselves for the prevention of future intimate partner violence relationships (IPVRs). Quantitative data were obtained through a structured interview with a stratified sample of help-seeking women (N = 154) with no (n = 48, 0IPVR), one (n = 55, 1IPVR), or multiple (n = 51, 2IPVR) IPVRs. This study investigated the association between (a) childhood family violence, (b) other childhood adversities, (c) victimization and perpetration of IPV in the last (index) relationship, and (d) controlling sociodemographic and contextual variables, and the following dependent variables: (a) women with 1IPVR and 2IPVR compared with 0IPVR and (b) women with 1IPVR compared with 2IPVR. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that, compared with nonvictimized women, IPV victimized women were nearly three times more likely to report childhood sexual abuse. They also reported a higher frequency of peer victimization and a higher likelihood of having an immigrant partner. In addition, the length of the index relationship was shorter for IPV victimized women. Compared with women with 1IPVR, women with IPV by MP were more likely to report childhood emotional abuse and less education, and they were less likely to be immigrants. The two groups of IPV victimized women were indistinguishable regarding characteristics of victimization and perpetration of IPV. This study indicated that there were other risk factors for IPV by MP than for IPV in general and highlighted the importance of addressing parenting and emotional care in IPV families. Keywords: intimate partner violence, risk, multiple partners, childhood emotional abuse, sexual abuse, peer victimization

• Holmboe, Morten; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2019). Avverging av mishandling i nære relasjoner : en flerfaglig tilnærming : del II. Tidsskrift for familierett, arverett og barnevernrettslige spørsmål. ISSN 1503-2965. 17(3), s. 263–280. doi: 10.18261/issn.0809-9553-2019-03-05. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Alle har en plikt til å søke å avverge en del nærmere definerte straffbare handlinger (straffeloven § 196). Et av straffebudene som er nevnt i oppregningen i § 196, er forbudet mot mishandling i nære relasjoner (straffeloven § 282). I vår forrige artikkel i FAB 2019 nr. 2 gikk vi gjennom en del grunnleggende rettslige spørsmål, og drøftet momenter som kan gi grunn til å frykte at noen vil bli utsatt for mishandling i nære relasjoner. I denne artikkelen presenterer vi noen praktiske eksempler, drøfter kunnskapskravet og hva som skal til for at en person har oppfylt avvergingsplikten.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Bjørkly, Stål (2019). Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence : a mixed methods systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. ISSN 1524-8380. 22(4), s. 635–655. doi: 10.1177/1524838019869102. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  requiring professionals to report cases of IPV, or suspected IPV injuries, to the police or the criminal justice system. The term for this is mandatory reporting. In spite of its good intention, mandatory reporting of IPV is a controversial issue. The objective of this review was to systematically search for, appraise the quality of, and synthetize the evidence from quantitative and qualitative studies on mandatory reporting of IPV. A systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted through Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Criminal Justice Abstracts, and SveMedþ. Articles were included if they (a) were peer-reviewed empirical studies rather than theories or discussions, (b) described mandatory reporting of IPV, and (c) were written in English or Scandinavian languages. No time limit was applied. Twenty-five research studies met the criteria for review. Victims were generally supportive of a law requiring professionals to report IPV, although subsamples’ attitudes opposing mandatory reporting were presented as main findings in a substantial number of studies. Group differences between abused or nonabused women and knowledge about mandatory reporting of IPV among professionals was mixed and inconclusive. Few professionals had actually reported IPV under mandatory reporting. Empirical research appears to be scarce, with moderate to high degree of bias and with only limited recent development. Keywords: mandatory reporting, domestic violence, professionals, IPV victims, intimate partner violence, systematic review

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2019). Partnerdrap : omfang, tidlig identifikasjon og forebygging. I Lillevik, Ole Greger; Salamonsen, Jens Severin & Nordhaug, Inge (Red.), Vold i nære relasjoner : diskurser og fenomenforståelse. Gyldendal Norsk Forlag A/S. ISSN 9788205512429. s. 312–329. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine & Bjørkly, Stål (2019). The influence of substance use on intimate partner homicide : evidence from a Norwegian national 22-year cohort. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. ISSN 1499-9013. 18(2), s. 99–110. doi: 10.1080/14999013.2018.1525777. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Intimate partner homicides (IPH) are fatal violent attacks perpetrated by intimate partners. Research has indicated that substance use can co-occur in IPH. This study investigates the role of substance influence at the time of the crime and the prevalence of substance use in these cases. All IPHs in Norway from 1990–2012 (N = 177) were included. Quantitative data were extracted from court documents. Information concerning risk factors was drawn from three validated risk assessment instruments. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. For IPH committed by a substance-influenced perpetrator, there was an increased risk of the victim being substance influenced as well (OR = 11.697, CI = 4.259 – 31.631). Similarly, there was an association between perpetrators’ type of influence at the time of the crime and perpetrators’ substance misuse in general. Blood alcohol or other toxins were present in half of the perpetrators and 41% of the victims. Our results point to an association between IPH and substance use which needs to be established. Hence, this will have clinical and policy implications. Keywords: intimate partner homicide, substance use, alcohol, risk assessment, intimate partner violence

• Holmboe, Morten; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2019). Avverging av mishandling i nære relasjoner : en flerfaglig tilnærming : del I. Tidsskrift for familierett, arverett og barnevernrettslige spørsmål. ISSN 1503-2965. 17(2), s. 114–130. doi: 10.18261/issn.0809-9553-2019-02-02. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Mishandling i nære relasjoner (straffeloven § 282) er meget skadelig. Derfor har alle en plikt til å søke å avverge slik mishandling ved anmeldelse eller på annen måte (straffeloven § 196). Denne avvergingsplikten gjelder også for den som har taushetsplikt, for eksempel en helsearbeider, en lærer eller en sosialarbeider. Å vurdere om et fremtidig lovbrudd er sannsynlig, kan kreve et faglig skjønn der man bygger på erfaringer fra feltet. Ved å anlegge et flerfaglig perspektiv vil vi bidra med kunnskap til slike vurderinger. Det kan være juridisk krevende å vurdere om vold, trusler eller andre krenkelser i en konkret sak er «mishandling i nære relasjoner» slik at det foreligger en avvergingsplikt. Artikkelen redegjør for de nærmere vilkårene for at straffebudet mot mishandling i nære relasjoner kan anvendes. I FAB nr. 3 for 2019 vil vi i en oppfølgende artikkel (del II) gå nærmere inn på hvilken rett yrkesutøvere med taushetsplikt kan ha til å melde fra om handlinger som ikke nødvendigvis vil rammes av straffeloven § 282, og hvilken kunnskap en person må ha for å kunne straffes for unnlatt avverging. Nøkkelord: avvergingsplikt, taushetsplikt, mishandling i nære relasjoner, partnervold, stalking

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine & Bjørkly, Stål (2019). A comparison of intimate partner homicide to intimate partner homicide-suicide : evidence from a Norwegian National 22-year Cohort. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. ISSN 0886-2605. 36(17-18), s. 8231–8256. doi: 10.1177/0886260519849656. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Homicide-suicide incidents make up a relatively small proportion of homicides overall, but occur more frequently in certain subtypes of homicide, such as men who kill their female partners. This study investigates aspects of intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPHS) by comparing it with intimate partner homicide (IPH). All IPHs in Norway from 1990 to 2012 (N = 177) were included. Quantitative data were extracted from court documents. Qualitative data were collected by interviews with bereaved. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and systematic text condensation were conducted. Nearly one fourth of IPHs were identified as IPHS. Perpetrators of IPHS were less likely to have a previous criminal record, even having a history of disregard and violations of the law. Perpetrators of IPHS were mainly native-born citizens and were more educated than IPH perpetrators. The motive of IPHS was more often jealousy than a dispute, but the motive was most often recorded as “other” or “unknown.” IPHS was perceived as intentional, and the bereaved did not unambiguously support the interpretation that the IPHS had been triggered by stressful situations. The bereaved pointed to the loss of hope or loss of a future combined with an inability to cope with severe disappointments as an important risk factor. Within the framework of an interactional perspective, our findings indicate that IPHS shares more characteristics with IPH than it does with other categories of homicide and other violent deaths in general. Keywords: intimate partner homicide, homicide, suicide, homicide-suicide, motives, perpetrator distinction, intimate partner violence

• Lockertsen, Øyvind; Varvin, Sverre; Færden, Ann; Eriksen, Bjørn Magne Sundsbø; Roaldset, John Olav & Procter, Nicholas G. [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2019). Risk assessment of imminent violence in acute psychiatry : a step towards an extended model. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology. ISSN 1478-9949. 31(1), s. 41–63. doi: 10.1080/14789949.2019.1663898. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Aggression occurs frequently in mental health care settings, and studies have reported that 17% to 31% of patients admitted to acute psychiatric wards commit violence. Inpatients’ fluctuating mental states and behaviour patterns reinforce the need for an assessment instrument to predict potential violence in a timely manner. This naturalistic prospective inpatient study investigated whether an extended short-term risk assessment model that combines (a) short-term risk assessment with the Broset Violence Checklist (BVC), (b) patient’s own prediction of violence with the Self-Report Risk Scale (SRS) and (c) single items from the Violence Risk Screening 10 (V-RISK-10) provides better short-term predictive accuracy for violence than the BVC alone. All patients admitted to a psychiatric emergency hospital in Norway during one year were included (N = 508). Stepwise multivariate generalised linear mixed model analyses were conducted. When adjusting for repeated measurements, the results indicated that an extended model for short-term risk assessment, consisting of the BVC, SRS and Item 2 Previous and/or current threats from the V-RISK-10 explained more variance of imminent violence, compared to the BVC alone. Further studies are recommended to investigate whether the extended model provides a clinically better short-term risk prediction of imminent violence, compared to the BVC alone. Keywords: acute psychiatry, aggression, repeated measurements, risk assessment, violence

Se alle arbeider i NVA

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Vølstad, Astrid & Kristiansen, Susanne Tilke Thon (2026). Partnervoldsutsattes og -utøveres erfaringer, kunnskap og holdninger til avvergeplikten. doi: https:/www.hivolda.no/sluttkonferanse-forskningsprosjektet-avvergeplikt-mote-med-partnervold. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Dahl, Silje Louise; Linge, Anita Dyb & Nordby, Christine (2026). Profesjonsutøveres erfaringer, kunnskap og holdninger til avvergeplikten. doi: https:/www.hivolda.no/sluttkonferanse-forskningsprosjektet-avvergeplikt-mote-med-partnervold. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2026). Avvergeplikt i møte med partnervold. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Nordby, Christine; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Vølstad, Astrid (2026). Avvergeplikten – Holdninger til og kunnskap om avvergeplikt i møte med partnervold. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Kolås, Hannah; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Ottesen, Vibeke (2025). Lavere antall drepte i år. [Radio]. radio.nrk.no. doi: https:/radio.nrk.no/serie/dagens/sesong/202512/DMTR01025325. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Hagen-Nielsen, Anne & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). 2025 ligger an til å ha rekordlavt antall drap. [Journal]. smp.no. doi: https:/www.smp.no/nyheter/i/QJRWKP/2025-ligger-an-til-aa-ha-rekordlavt-antall-drap. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Brevik, Thea Beate; Laake, Petter; Bjørkly, Stål Kapstø & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Can an educational intervention on mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence improve health care providers’ knowledge and attitudes? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Dahl, Silje Louise; Nordby, Christine; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Mandatory reporters and central recipients of mandatory reports: Police officers’ dual role in mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence in Norway. A mixed methods study. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Nordby, Christine; Douglas, Kevin Stewart & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Experience, Knowledge and Attitudes toward Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence: Comparing Professionals Working with Victims and Perpetrators. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Kristiansen, Susanne Tilke Thon; Nordby, Christine; Vølstad, Astrid & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Hvilken betydning har det om de har barn? Avvergeplikt i møte med partnervold. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Presentasjon av resultater fra prosjektet MANREPORT-IPV - Avvergeplikt i møte med partnervold.

• Vølstad, Astrid; Kristiansen, Susanne Tilke Thon; Douglas, Kevin Stewart; Brevik, Thea Beate; Nordby, Christine & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators’ Perspectives on Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence: a Mixed Methods Approach. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background and purpose: Help services for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) are an important part of IPV prevention. Professionals might be subject to mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence (MR-IPV) policies or laws. MR-IPV research has focused on IPV victims and service providers for IPV victims. A recent systematic review found no MR-IPV studies including IPV perpetrators (Vatnar et al., 2021), and there has been limited recent development. The study aimed to examine IPV perpetrators’ perspectives and experiences with MR-IPV. Methods: The study was part of MANREPORT-IPV – a mixed methods research project with a convergent parallel design. Forty-one IPV perpetrators were recruited from voluntary help services for IPV for the quantitative part of the study. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the IPV perpetrators’ perception, knowledge and experience with MR-IPV. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 9 other IPV perpetrators, recruited from the same voluntary help services. Findings from the qualitative interviews were used to expand on the quantitative findings. Findings: Preliminary findings indicate that the majority of the IPV perpetrators had been informed about MR-IPV. However, few reported that they knew the MR-IPV law, and few had MR-IPV experience. The IPV perpetrators varied in their perception of MR-IPV. There was an indication of positive perceptions of MR-IPV on some items, while the responses were more variable for others, indicating nuances in the perception of MR-IPV. Conclusions and implications: Despite the limited sample size, there is little previous research and the findings add important new information about the perspectives on MR-IPV among IPV perpetrators who have sought help. Our findings suggest that professionals working with IPV perpetrators should ensure that information is not only given, but also adequately understood. As the MR-IPV research on this core group is very scarce, future research is needed.

• Linge, Anita Dyb; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Balancing Mandaroty Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence and Healthcare Legislations at Assault Centres. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This study examines how assault centre employees balance biomedical ethical principles and healthcare legislation when considering mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence (MR-IPV). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is recognised as a widespread public health problem. To address and prevent IPV, countries, including Norway, have implemented MR laws. However, these laws impose challenges and concerns for healthcare professionals in treating and assisting victims of IPV. Given their unique position, healthcare professionals play a pivotal role in identifying, treating, and reporting cases of IPV to the police or the criminal justice system. This qualitative explorative study examined data from 12 individual semi-structural interviews with healthcare professionals at assault centres. Nine nurses and three medical practitioners were recruited and interviewed between September and November 2022. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phased reflexive thematic analysis. Preliminary findings indicate that healthcare professionals were deeply committed to the emergency medical treatment of victims of IPV. In addition, two themes seem consistent: MR-IPV seemed to be subsequent but parallel to emergency medical treatment, and healthcare legislations and ethical principles were more recognised than MR-IPV. Findings indicate that healtcare professionals have challeng in navigating MR-IPV, ethical principles and healthcare legislation when working with victims of IPV at assault centres.

• Brevik, Thea Beate; Laake, Petter; Bjørkly, Stål Kapstø; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2025). Correction to: An educational intervention study on mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence_ changes in knowledge and attitudes among healthcare providers (BMC Medical Education, (2024), 24, 1, (1124), 10.1186/s12909-024-06120-8). BMC Medical Education. 25(1). doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07442-x. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Kifle, Mylena (2024). Svært få melder ifra. [Journal]. Klassekampen. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Det er høy terskel i hjelpeapparatene for å varsle om mistenkt partnervold, ifølge forsker

• Dahl, Hilde; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Killingbergtrø, Sara Tangen & Råen, Truls August (2024). Menn som begår selvmord etter drap: – De hadde lengre utdannelse. [Journal]. Adresseavisen Pluss. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Stensland, Sveinung; Mehl, Emilie Enger; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Unneland, Andreas Sjalg; Skarvøy, Lars Joakim & Joner, Selma (2024). Ingen krav om legeattest for å få våpen : ber Mehl se på reglene. [Internet]. tv2.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vølstad, Astrid; Douglas, Kevin Stewart & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2024). Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence : attitudes among help-seekers subjected to intimate partner violence. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Nordby, Christine; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Douglas, Kevin Stewart (2024). Service providers evaluation of clinical example of intimate partner violence. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Mandatory reportingofintimatepartnerviolence(MR-IPV)iscontroversial,characterizedbystrongattitudes and limitedresearch.Thecurrentstudyinvestigatedhowdifferentgroupsofserviceprovidersevaluate whether MRappliesinavignetteconcerningavictimofIPVseekinghelpfromtwodifferenthelpservices. 374 participantsfrom6differenthelpserviceswereaskedtoconsider18statementsregardingrelevantfactors (i.e., childreninthehousehold;immigrationstatus;presenceofphysicalinjury)andtheirimpactontheap- plication ofMR.Preliminaryresultsindicatethattheevaluationswerepredictedbyparticipants’professional groups, attitudinalfactorsandexperiencewithMR-IPV.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2024). The relations between homicide, intimate partner homicide, attempted homicide, and grievous bodily harm. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ummak, Esra; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Killingbergtrø, Sara Tangen & Düring, Malin von (2024). Skeive sier de ikke får god nok hjelp. [Journal]. Adresseavisen. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Det sier forsker Esra Ummak ved VID vitenskapelige høgskole. Hen påpeker at vold i skeive parforhold er underkommunisert i de nordiske landene, inkludert Norge og Finland. Det betyr ikke at det eksisterer mindre av det – tvert imot.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Hennum, Ragnhild Helene; Prestegård, Sofie; Vatne, Lauritz Rushfeldt & Fossheim, Kenneth (2024). Partnerdrap: Dette er de vanligste farevarslene. [Internet]. tv2.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2024). Understanding Intimate partner homicide : potential for improved prevention? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Brevik, Thea Beate; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2023). Can an educational intervention influence service providers’ awareness, attitudes, and experience of mandatory reporting of intimate partnerviolence? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Many persons who experience or use IPV have experienced that professional services have underrated the gravity of their situation. Our objective was to explore if an educational intervention can influence service providers’ awareness, attitudes, and experience of MR of IPV. Methods: We conducted a 4-hour educational intervention on MR of IPV to service providers. We used a pre-and post-test design to measure the providers’ awareness, attitudes, and experience through a validated questionnaire. The outcome was measured at baseline (t0), immediately after the intervention was given (t1), and after six months (t2). Results: 94% of the invited providers agreed to participate (51 of 54 at t0; 49 of 52 at t1). Preliminary results from t0, t1, and t2 will be presented. Implications: It’s important to identify actions that can facilitate MR.

• Nordby, Christine; Douglas, Kevin Stewart & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2023). The association between experiencesand attitudes of supporting or opposing mandatory reporting of intimate partnerviolence. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Little is known about the association between experiences with, awareness of, and attitudes toward mandatory reporting (MR) amongst professionals who work with persons who have experienced or used intimate partner violence (IPV). This study aims to explore the extent to which professionals’ support of or opposition to MR of IPV depends on their experience with and awareness of MR of IPV. Through 30-45-minute quantitative questionnaires we recruited 340 professionals. We gathered information about their sociodemographic and professional background, responses regarding their experience with IPV and MR; their workplace routine for reporting IPV; and knowledge and attitudes about MR of IPV. Questionnaires were obtained both digitally and physically over a period of 11 months. The research question will be explored through descriptive analyses and logistic regression. Preliminary results will be presented.

• Kristiansen, Susanne Tilke Thon; Linge, Anita Dyb; Dahl, Silje Louise; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2023). Professionals’and help-seekers’awarenessand experiences with mandatory reporting of intimate partnerviolence. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Mandatory reporting (MR) is a means to prevent IPV and intimate partner homicide. Empirical research regarding performing and experiences of MR by professionals and help-seekers is scarce. A systematic review found that the awareness of MR was mixed and inconclusive. Very few professionals had reported IPV under MR, and evidence for supporting or opposing MR of IPV is inconclusive (Vatnar, Leer-Salvesen & Bjørkly, 2019). This study examines: What are professionals’ and help-seekers’ awareness and experiences with MR of IPV? Methods: The analysis is based on 75 qualitative semi-structured interviews with professionals with different roles and responsibilities in the help and service system, as well as persons who have experienced or used IPV. The in-depth data is analysed using thematic text condensation. An abductive approach with a four-step analytical process overviewed and gave tentative ideas of themes, coding, condensation and recontextualization. Results: Preliminary results will be presented at the conference.

• Hallgren, Siv; Mestad, Adele Matheson; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Bjørkly, Stål Kapstø (2023). Varslede drap? Og hva kan en nyopprettet partnerdrapskommisjon bidra med? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Borgen, Siv Yndestad; Borgen, Arne Petter; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Syversen, Vibeke Schei & Ruud, Tor-Erling Thømt (2023). Krimpodden : et varslet drap? [Internet]. vg.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine & Bjørkly, Stål Kapstø (2023). Changes over time in intimate partner homicide in Norway. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is an extreme outcome of intimate partner violence (IPV). IPH needs to be investigated over time to see whether changes occur. This study includes the total Norwegian cohort of IPHs between 1990 and 2020 and analyses changes in the incidence rate during this period. Poisson regression was applied. The results show that though incidence rates for homicide generally declined steadily and significantly from 1990, IPH rates did not begin to decline until 2015. As IPH is often the culmination of IPV, it is preventable even if risk assessment is challenging due to the low base rates.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Steiro, Gard; Håndlykken, Tora Bakke; Brenne, Øyvind; Throndsen, Jane & Skartveit, Hanne (2023). Elines dramatiske historie : del 5: merket for livet. [Journal]. vg.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2023). Avvergerplikt i møte med partnervold. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Holmboe, Morten & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2023). Familievold: for snevert bilde av avvergeplikt. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2023). Avvergeplikt i møte med partnervold. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2023). Vold og drap i nære relasjoner - i et forebyggingsperspektiv. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Ottesen, Vibeke Kennair & Tangvald-Pedersen, Aslaug (2022). Syv kvinner drept hittil i år. [Journal]. vg.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2022). Vold i nære relasjoner. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2022). Partnerdrap i et forebyggingsperspektiv. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ørum, Ingrid Løining; Holmboe, Morten & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2022). Avvergeplikt kan oppstå selv om faren ikke er «akutt». Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Det er viktig å minne seg selv på at det ikke bare er taushetsplikten som er viktig, skriver artikkelforfatterne.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2022). Avvergeplikt i møtet med partnervold - MANREPORT-IPV. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Det er betydelige utfordringer knyttet til forståelsen og praktiseringen av taushetsplikt, opplysningsplikt, opplysningsrett og avvergeplikt. Solveig er en av to prosjektledere i prosjektet MANREPORT-IPV, som er et tverrfaglig forskningsprosjekt om profesjonsutøveres avvergeplikt i møte med partnervold. «Kompetansefrokost» er et tverrfaglig og tverrinstitusjonelt arrangement som er et samarbeid mellom Campus Kristiansund, Helseinnovasjonssenteret, Høgskolen i Molde, Kristiansund og Nordmøre Næringsforum (KNN), Møreforsking og Vindel.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Kristiansen, Susanne Thon & Kippernes, Mari (2022). Skal forske på forebygging av partnervold. [Journal]. Romsdals Budstikke. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Brevik, Thea Beate; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Bjørkly, Stål (2022). Mandatory reporting of IPV - pre-and post-test of awareness, attitudes, and experience among service providers participating in an educational intervention. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Hennum, Ragnhild Helene & Teigen-Fagerheim, Rose (2022). De fleste partnerdrap hadde forvarsler. [Internet]. kjonnsforskning.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Forvarslene handler for det meste om tidligere voldshendelser, ifølge Solveig Vatne. Hun har ledet to nasjonale partnerdrapsstudier.

• Elgaaen, Vilde; Milli, Øystein; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Finanger, Hanne & Ruud, Tor-Erling Thømt (2022). Krimpodden : mor og datter drept i Kristiansand. [Internet]. vg.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Schjøtt-Pedersen, Karl Eirik; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Fossum, Ane; Birkeland, Inger Elise; Stensland, Sveinung & Thorsvik, Ingvild Wetrhus [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2022). Riksrevisjonen med krass kritikk av innsats mot vold i nære relasjoner. [Internet]. nrk.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Finanger, Hanne & Sollund, Sigrid (2022). Kvinnedrap i nære relasjoner. [TV]. Dagsnytt 18. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan & Bjørkly, Stål (2021). Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  To prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) and intimate partner homicide, countries have adopted legislation requiring professionals to report cases of IPV, or suspected IPV injuries, to the police or the criminal justice system. The term for this is mandatory reporting. In these countries, the duty to report is legally ranked higher than patient confidentiality. In spite of this, mandatory reporting of IPV remains a controversial issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) (2013) advises against mandatory reporting of IPV for clinicians and researchers. The objective of this paper is to synthetize the evidence from empirical studies on mandatory reporting of IPV.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine & Bjørkly, Stål (2021). Intimate partner homicide in Norway – stability or changes in more recent times? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: The first encompassing scientific investigation of all intimate partner homicides in Norway between 1990-2012 was published in 2015. A recurring question has been whether substantial changes have occurred in more recent times, leading to a different empirical landscape. Methods: Data included all intimate partner homicides from 1990 to 2019 with a final conviction. We conducted adjusted logistic regression analyses to scrutinize differences between the two periods. To investigate prevalence changes over time we conducted Poisson regression. Findings: During the time span there were 224 intimate partner homicides with a final conviction. Results indicated some reductions concerning prevalence and rates. Several rates and characteristics were stable, while sentence length had increased. Conclusions and implications: There were no observed changes to the finding that a majority of intimate partner homicides had observed risk factors. There is need for studies covering longer time spans and about professionals’ managing codes of confidentiality and mandatory reporting.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Syversen, Vibeke Schei; Bu, Fanny & Hessen, Frida Daae (2021). Seks drap på under én måned – særlig en detalj peker seg ut. [Internet]. tv2.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Fra ingen til seks drapssaker på under en måned. Forskere sier det er for tidlig å kunne si noe sikkert om hvordan nedstengningen vil påvirke drapsstatistikken.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Mæland, Monica & Stoltz, Torkil (2021). Ny forskning: Nedgang i partnerdrap de siste årene. [TV]. NRK. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Mæland, Monica; Syversen, Vibeke; Elster, Kristian; Kolberg, Marit & Mjaaland, Ola (2021). Ny forskning: Nedgang i partnerdrap de siste årene. [Internet]. nrk.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ottesen, Vibeke Kennair; Syversen, Vibeke Schei; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Wernø, Ida Lyngstad (2021). Ingen drap hittil i 2021: - Bedre enn en kunne håpe på. [Journal]. VG. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Vingen, Anita (2021). Forska på partnardrap - ser ny tendens. [Journal]. Romsdals Budstikke. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Heidar, Sille; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Bjørnebekk, Ragnhild & Fange, Per Øyvind (2020). De gamle drapsmennene: Druknet, knivstakk, skjøt sine koner. [Internet]. nrk.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ottesen, Vibeke Kennair; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Tømmerdal, Kine F. & Lærum, Gunhild (2020). Drapsforsker om mødre som dreper sin egne barn: - Dette er svært sjeldent. [Journal]. Romerike Blad. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2020). Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Cancelled due to COVID-19

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2020). Mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Cancelled due to COVID-19

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Bjørnebekk, Ragnhild; Riaz, Wasim K. & Øystese, Ida Melbo (2020). 6 drapssaker på 19 julidager. [Journal]. Aftenposten. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Nesset, Merete Berg & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2020). Vurdering av risiko for partnervold: Bruk av verktøyene SARA V3 og PATRIARK i Trondheim. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Nesset, Merete Berg & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2020). Vurdering av risiko for partnervold. Bruk av verktøyene SARA V3 og PATRIARK i Tromsø. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ørke, Elisabeth Christie; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Bjørkly, Stål (2019). A comparison of women with one or multiple IPV relationships regarding previous domestic violence. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine & Bjørkly, Stål (2019). A comparison of intimate partner homicide followed by suicide or not : evidence from a Norwegian national 22-year cohort. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Robbins, Rachel; Bows, Hannah; Baldry, Anna Costanza; Alisic, Eva & Devaney, John (2019). Research findings on domestic homicide. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Holst, Øyvind; Bjørkly, Stål & Friestad, Christine (2019). Som lyn fra klar himmel? s. 16–16. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine & Bjørkly, Stål (2019). Intimate partner homicide followed by suicide : bereaved perspectives. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This study investigates intimate partner homicide (IPH) followed by suicide (IPHS). All IPHs in Norway from 1990 to 2012 (N = 177) were included. Qualitative data were collected by interviews with bereaved. Quantitative data were extracted from court documents. Systematic text condensation and multivariate logistic regression were conducted. One fourth of IPHs were IPHS. Results address how the bereaved perceive the intentional aspect of IPHS and their interpretation of stressful situations as a trigger of IPHS, and perpetrator characteristics with focus on previous criminal record and having a history of disregard and violations of the law. 2

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Solberg, Trine (2019). Britisk forsker: Disse 8 fasene går morderen gjennom før partnerdrap. [Journal]. pluss.nettavisen.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lockertsen, Øyvind; Varvin, Sverre; Færden, Ann; Eriksen, Bjørn Magne Sundsbø; Roaldset, John Olav & Procter, Nicholas G. [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2019). Short-term risk assessment in acute psychiatry: a step towards an extended model. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Most structured violence risk assessment instruments achieve a moderate accuracy,suggesting a ‘glass ceiling’ effect. Inpatients’ fluctuating mental states and behaviour patterns reinforce the need for a short-term risk prediction instrument to predict potential imminent violence. Previous studies on risk assessment of imminent violence in acute psychiatry have been limited in at least three aspects: the examination of only one instrument at a time, use of professionals’ observations without including patients’ self-perceptions of risk, and use of statistical and methodological analysis, which do not adjust for repeated measurements. Thus, there is a need to investigate whether different and extended approaches may improve predictions. Aim The aim was to investigate whether an extended short-term risk assessment model combining (i) short-term risk assessment with the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC), (ii) patients’ own prediction of violence with the Self-report Risk Scale (SRS) and (iii) single items from Violence Risk Screening 10 (V-RISK 10) would provide improved short-term predictive accuracy of violence compared to the BVC alone. Methods The design was a naturalistic prospective inpatient study. All patients admitted to a psychiatric emergency hospital in Norway during one year were included (N = 508). Stepwise multivariate generalised linear mixed model (GLMM) analyses were conducted. The extended model consisted of three steps: (i) BVC recorded at every nursing shift. (ii) BVC and SRS recorded at admssion. (iii) The final extended model in which BVC, SRS and two items from V-RISK 10 were included. Results and conclusions When adjusting for repeated measurements, the results indicated that an extended model for short-term risk assessment, consisting of the BVC, SRS and one of the two single items from the V-RISK-10 was valid and that the extended model explained more variance of imminent violence, compared with the BVC alone. All components of the final extended model remained significantly associated with imminent violence when controlling for gender. Similar to global trends towards person-centred care, clinicians move closer to entering into the patients’ conceptualisation of their risk for violence by including the SRS. More studies are recommended to investigate whether such an extended model including patients’ own prediction of violence provides a clinically better violence risk prediction than short-term risk assessments with the BVC alone.

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2019). Domestic homicide, mental health and substance misuse. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Kohn, Ervind; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Skiphamn, Silje S.; Karlsen, Mina Liavik & Akerbæk, Eva (2019). Vi vet ikke om 70% av partnerdrap i Norge begås av ikke-muslimske nordmenn. [Internet]. www.faktisk.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Leer-Salvesen, Kjartan; Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø & Holmboe, Morten (2019). Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence. Evidence and Challenges. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lockertsen, Øyvind; Varvin, Sverre; Færden, Ann & Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø (2019). Short-term risk assessment and imminent violence adjusted for repeated measurements: Differences among diagnostic subpopulations. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This naturalistic prospective in-patient study investigates the association between the Broset Violence Checklist (BVC) and imminent violence, adjusted for repeated measurements. We particularly scrutinize if the prediction of imminent violence differentiates between diagnostic subpopulations. The study included all admitted patients in an acute psychiatric ward during one calendar year (N = 528). Generalized linear mixed model analyses were conducted. Adjusted for repeated measurements, the BVC was significantly associated with imminent violence. The association remained for four out of six diagnostic subsamples, according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10).

• Vatnar, Solveig Karin Bø; Friestad, Christine & Bjørkly, Stål (2021). Partnerdrap i Norge – endringer over tid? OUS Regionalt kompetansesenter for sikkerhets-, fengsles- og rettspsykiatri Helse Sør-Øst. ISSN 9788282272025. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

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