OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between the psychological impediment of the patients with somatization disorder (SD) and domestic violence, and to enhance peoples recognition of this kind of patients' harmful action to others so as to attach more importance to the patients and to the improvement of mental health service of the community.

METHODSQuestionnaire scoring was conducted among the wives of the SD group and the control group concerning domestic violence. It was also conducted in the SD group, the control group and the wives of the two groups concerning defense mechanism.

RESULTSThe average score on demestic violence of the SD group was significantly higher than that of the normal control. Immature and intermediate defenses were more usual in the SD group than in the normal control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPsychological impediment of SD patients is an important cause of domestic violence.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Defense Mechanisms ; Domestic Violence ; Educational Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Somatoform Disorders ; psychology