According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), twenty-four people every minute are affected by intimate partner violence. (2013) It is estimated that twelve million people are affected each year in the United States alone. Intimate partner violence includes anything from physical or sexual abuse to psychological abuse to stalking or threats from a current or former partner. This form of violence can occur between couples who identify with any sexual orientation. The CDC reports that people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual are at equal or greater risk of intimate partner violence. (2013) Sexual intimacy within the relationship is not a requirement for violence to be considered intimate partner violence. (CDC, 2013) The U.S. Department of Justice reports that women are more likely to be victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence. (Catalano, 2006) It is estimated that two million women a year are victims of physical abuse and this number does not include any other form of intimate partner violence. (Connelly, et al. 2006) Intimate partner violence results in thirty percent of all female homicides. (Catalano, 2006) For males the percentage drops to 5%. Men and women between the ages of twenty and thirty-four are at the highest risk of intimate partner violence. Again, both married but separated men and women are at greater risk of intimate partner violence. Black and white women are more likely to be victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence. However, white women are more likely to be victims of fatal intimate partner violence. Individuals with lower income and socioeconomic status are at greater risk, but women are at greater risk regardless of income...... middle of paper ......: The Official Journal Of The International Society For The Study of Dissociation (ISSD), 8(2), 47-68. Smith, P. H., Homish, G. G., Leonard, K. E., & Cornelius, J. R. (2012). Intimate partner violence and specific substance use disorders: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Psychology of Addictive Behavior, 26(2), 236-245. Stith, S.M., McCollum, E.E., Amanor-Boadu, Y., Smith, D. (2012) Systemic perspectives on the treatment of intimate partner violence. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38(1), 220 – 240.Stuart, G.L., Moore, T.M., Elkins, S.R., O'Farrell, T.J., Temple, J.R., Ramsey, S.E., & Shorey, R.C. (2013). The temporal association between substance use and intimate partner violence among women arrested for domestic violence. Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, 81(4), 681-690.