Recommendations:

• There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of specific screening instruments for family violence, but including a few direct questions about abuse (physical violence or forced sexual activity) as part of the routine history in adult patients may be recommended on other grounds.
• All clinicians examining children and adults should be alert to physical and behavioral signs and symptoms associated with abuse and neglect in children, spouses/partners, and the elderly.
• All individuals who present with multiple injuries and an implausible explanations should be evaluated with attentions to possible abuse and neglect.

Strategies and other considerations:

• "Were you or anyone in your family abused when you were growing up?"
• "Have you ever experienced physical violence or being threatened with a weapon by someone in your family?"
• "Does your partner ever hurt you?"
• "What do you do if your child misbehaves?"
• "Have you ever been afraid that someone was going to hurt your child?"
• "Have you ever been afraid that you may hurt your child?"
• "Have you been afraid that someone is going to hurt you?"

• Link question to information patient has already provided: "You said that one bad thing in your relationship is frequent arguments. Does your partner ever hurt you?"
• Normalize the problem: "Many of my patients have told me that their partners hit them—how is it for you?"

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