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Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex public health and social issue. Women with an intellectual disability (ID) are at greater risk of experiencing IPV. However, little is known about the IPV experiences of women with an ID and forensic care needs. The purpose of this paper is to explore the history of experienced and perpetrated IPV in women detained to secure specialist ID forensic service.

Participants completed the Conflict Tactics Scale-2 (CTS-2, Straus et al., 1996). The CTS-2 measures experienced and perpetrated relationship tactics of common forms of IPV.

Participants reported high levels of experiencing and perpetrating IPV across all relationship tactics measured by the CTS-2. Participants reported they engaged in similar levels of experiencing and perpetrating positive and negative relationship tactics. The only significant difference was “minor sexual coercive behavior” where participants were significantly more likely to experience than perpetrate this behaviour.

Further research exploring the risk factors that contribute to IPV is needed. Shortcomings in the current study are acknowledged.

Women with an ID and forensic profiles may present with treatment needs as victims and perpetrators of IPV. Clinical activities of women in Forensic ID services should include possible IPV care needs. The importance of developing national guidance and interventions to prevent and manage IPV are discussed.

This is the first paper, to the authors’ knowledge, to explore experiences of IPV in women with an ID and forensic care needs.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on “Spirituality and learning disability: a review of UK Government guidance” by Sango and Forrester-Jones.

The commentary examines the interplay between spirituality and health care in caring for people with a learning disability from a personal perspective and considers the reasons why healthcare professionals and caregivers may not facilitate expression of spirituality in this group.

Carers with a religious affiliation of their own are more likely to engage people with learning disability in exploration of religion and spirituality than those with no religious affiliation. Although government policy in this area is limited, spirituality is an integral part of holistic care and should be addressed by all healthcare professionals and paid carers.

This paper explores reasons why carers may find it hard to talk about spirituality and provides guidance and resources for talking about spirituality to people with learning disability.