Abstract: Objective To explore the personality characteristics of spousal batterers who committed serious violence and to provide solid reference for prevention and management tactics on domestic violence.Methods Case-control design and stratified sampling methods were used.A total of 200 families of long-term residents in Xianyang city,Shaanxi province were surveyed with Conflict Tactics Scale and Personality Diagnosis Questionnaire(PDQ)4th vision.Independent sample t-test and chi-square analysis were used to examine the difference betw een the two groups.Results The PDQ total score(34.24±16.13 vs 27.05±19.56),scores in schizoid subtype(1.75±1.43 vs 1.17±1.08),schizotypal subtype(2.58±1.61 vs 1.89±1.66),antisocial subtype(3.28±4.17 vs 1.93±3.35),borderline subtype(3.33±1.81 vs 2.53±2.06),and dependent subtype(3.52±2.10 vs 2.52±2.20)of battlers group were significantly higher than those of control group(P<0.05).The number of people who reached the cutting-off point of antisocial dimension in battlers group was significantly greater than that in control group(χ²=5.49,P<0.05).Conclusion The mental health condition of serious spouse-batters was problematic with some negative personality characteristics.