Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Title: Can mental health treatments help prevent or reduce intimate partner violence in 
low- and middle -income countries? A systematic review  
 
Version: 0 Date: 02 Jan 2019  
 
Reviewer: Gene S Feder  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a systematic review of LMIC controlled studies of mental health interventions that 
measured IPV outcomes. From the 6 heterogeneous studies that were eligible for the review, it 
was impossible to draw any conclusions about effectiveness. There was a  hint that interventions 
for depression may reduce IPV, but the authors wisely do not over -egg this finding from two 
primary studies.  
The review was comprehensive in terms of search strategy and competent in application of 
ex/inclusion criteria, data extr action, evaluation of bias risk and (the necessarily limited) 
analysis. The reviewers' critique of methodology is appropriate and helpful to this research field. 
The major limitation, given the global ambitions of the review, was restriction to papers 
published in English, It would be useful to know how many abstracts of potentially eligible 
studies were identified. As abstracts from French, German and other non -English journals are 
usually in English, this should be within the language competence of the re viewers.  
In their textual summary of findings from the primary studies,  the reviewers do not clearly 
distinguish between measurements of perpetration and victimisation. This outcome measurement 
ambiguity to some extent (looking at the tables) tracks back  to the studies themselves, as does 
insufficient characterisation of their populations in terms of perpetration and victimisation. 
Needless to say, that distinction is not always straightforward, but I think 
perpetration/victimisation measurement and chara cterisation in the primary studies needs more 
discussion in the review.   
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your com ments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
  
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical  review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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