General public definition
- Interpersonal violence is currently not listed as a diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.
- Interpersonal violence is the harmful physical and psychological behaviour by a person or group of people toward another person.
- Interpersonal violence is a type of potentially psychologically traumatic event or stressor. Interpersonal violence can contribute to mental health conditions in either the person causing the harm or the person who is harmed.
- Examples of interpersonal violence include intimate partner violence, elder abuse, and workplace violence.
Academic definition
- Interpersonal violence is currently not listed as a diagnosis in either the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.
- Interpersonal violence occurs when an individual causes physical or psychological injury to another individual, through one or more behaviours. Interpersonal violence includes, but is not limited to, child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, elder abuse, assault by strangers, as well as violence to do with property crimes or in the workplace or other institutions.
- Potentially psychologically traumatic events that involve interpersonal violence may cause more severe or complex mental health conditions (including mental disorders) due to interpersonal betrayal and attachment disruption. Other potentially psychologically traumatic events (e.g. natural disasters, structure fires) can also lead to similar severity and complexity of mental health conditions. However, the personal and relational nature of interpersonal violence often leads to more complex mental health conditions.
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