CHICAGO (AP) -- A new study challenges the notion that battered women who obtain court orders of protection merely enrage their abusive husbands or boyfriends and subject themselves to more violence.

In a study of 2,691 abused women in Seattle, those who obtained so-called permanent orders were 80 percent less likely to be assaulted during the year after their attack than battered women without court orders. Permanent orders generally lasted one year in the study.

Temporary orders, generally lasting two weeks in the study, made no difference in the risk of repeat violence. However, women who obtained them were nearly five times more likely to be psychologically abused by their husbands or boyfriends than battered women without any court orders.

Some reports have suggested that protection orders may anger the husband or boyfriend and increase the violence. University of Washington researcher Victoria Holt, who led the study, said the latest findings are reassuring.

The results were published in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

The findings regarding temporary orders confirm anecdotal evidence that battered women are especially vulnerable to repeat abuse right after they initiate court proceedings, which start with a temporary protection order.

With temporary orders, women are "starting the process and holding him accountable," said Esta Soler, president of the advocacy group Family Violence Prevention Fund. Women are also bringing the abuse into the public arena, which could anger the batterer and prompt more psychological abuse, she said.

The study reviewed only abuse that women reported to police. Women without court orders might have suffered more psychological abuse but did not report it, said Bette Garlow, director of the American Bar Association's domestic violence commission.

Protection orders are issued by courts to keep an attacker from engaging in repeat abuse. They may include an order to stay away from the victim's home or workplace, or to stop all contact including by telephone and mail.

Temporary protection orders generally last three days to a month and may be issued without giving the alleged abuser a chance to respond. Once such orders take effect, a hearing is scheduled to give the abuser a chance to address the complaint. A permanent order may then be issued.

Soler said the findings suggest that authorities should consider offering more services to women and alleged abusers right after a temporary order is issued, and not wait for a permanent order.

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