placebo gels were rubbed onto the skin in the same way as active treatments, we found that active treatments were significantly better than placebo. Creating double blind conditions in trials of counter irritants can be problematic as rubefacients irritate the skin whereas inactive placebos do not. Some studies allowed for this by removing the principle ingredient from the treatment, leaving a placebo vehicle containing some other potentially irritant ingredients. Although the number needed to treat for combined outcomes of trials of this type was greater (worse) than for trials with inactive placebo, the difference was not statistically significant and there was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions.

In 2000 about half the violent crimesrape, sexual assault, robbery, and simple and aggravated assaultcommitted against persons age 12 or older were reported to the police, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). About a third of both property crimesburglary, motor vehicle theft, and property theft-and pocket pickings or purse snatchings were also reported. Thirty-nine percent of the 25.4 million crimes estimated from victims' survey responses were reported to law enforcement authorities. On average from 1992 through 2000, 57% of robberies and 55% of aggravated assaults were reported to police. Thirty-one percent of rapes/sexual assaults were brought to the attention of the police. Overall violent crimes, rapes/sexual assaults, simple assaults, and serious violent crimes were reported to the police in higher percentages for 2000 than for the period 1992 through 1999. The reporting to police of violent crime victimizations overall increased from an annual average 43%, 1992-99, to 49% for 2000. The reporting of simple assaults increased from 37% to 44%.

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The correlation between race of victim and intimate partner violence (IPV) is examined. Previous research showing a relationship between Black victims and higher levels of violence were based on uni-variate examinations and often do not consider other important factors. This paper presents national estimates of IPV by victim's race using the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), 1993-1999. The estimates based only on race are then disaggregated to account for the victim's gender and household income. Uni-variate findings demonstrate that victim's race is significantly related to rates of intimate partner violence. However, after controlling for both victim's gender and annual household income, the victim's race is no longer significant. The importance of understanding intimate partner violence through a person's socioeconomic status rather than race is discussed.

This article expands the small but growing literature on intimate partner violence (IPV) against mature females using the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) from 1993 to 2001. Estimates depict the extent and nature of IPV against older women. Findings demonstrate relatively lower rates of IPV against mature females compared to younger victims. Findings describe the ways IPV is similar to and different from that experienced by young ervictims. A discussion of possible reasons for the relatively lower rates— including the uniqueness of the population, limitations of the NCVS, and measurement difficulties—is provided. Additional research using methodologies other than large-scale surveys is warranted to describe IPV of mature women.