NCJ Number
56957
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY IN MEDICINE Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (1977-1978) Pages: 191-202
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A 1-MONTH STUDY OF THE SURGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE OF A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM WAS CONDUCTED TO ALERT PHYSICIANS TO THE MAGNITUDE OF WIFE ABUSE AND TO IDENTIFY PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
Abstract
THIRTY-SEVEN SUBJECTS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE SURGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES AT THE YALE NEW HAVEN, CONN., HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM AS PERSONS SUFFERING FROM CONTINUAL PHYSICAL ABUSE. THIRTY-THREE OF THE 37 WOMEN WERE PRESENTED AT THE SURGICAL SERVICES AND THEY REPRESENTED 3.8 PERCENT OF ALL SURGICAL ADMISSIONS. ANALYSIS OF DATA COLLECTED ON THE WOMEN'S SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, FAMILY HISTORY, HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR, TYPE OF ABUSIVE SITUATION, AND PSYCHIATRIC STATUS SHOWS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE VICTIMS SUFFER FROM OTHER INJURIES BESIDES THE ONE THAT THEY ARE ADMITTED FOR, AND THESE INJURIES ARE USUALLY TO THE HEAD AND NECK. VICTIMS COME FROM ALL SOCIAL CLASSES AND ETHNIC GROUPS AND ARE OF ALL AGES. THE ABUSE TENDS TO BE SERIOUS, LONGSTANDING, FREQUENT, AND SEVERE AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER FAMILY VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY CHILD ABUSE. ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF THE WOMEN WERE NOT CURRENTLY PSYCHIATRICALLY ILL, BUT FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVED A PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS, DEPRESSION WAS THE MOST COMMON MALADY. MOST OF THE WOMEN WERE RELUCTANT TO RECEIVE PSYCHIATRIC HELP--FEAR OF HUSBAND REPRISAL OR FEAR OF BEING BLAMED FOR THE ABUSIVE SITUATION APPEARS TO BE THE REASON--BUT MOST WERE WILLING TO DISCUSS THEIR PROBLEMS WITH EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS. THE FOLLOWING PREVENTIVE IMPLICATIONS CAN BE DRAWN: (1) PHYSICIANS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT BOTH MARRIED AND UNMARRIED FEMALE PATIENTS EVIDENCING DEPRESSION, TRAUMA, OR PROBLEMS WITH CHILDREN COULD BE ABUSE VICTIMS; (2) PHYSICIANS WHO PROVIDE PRIMARY CARE ARE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER ABUSE VICTIMS AND SHOULD MAKE ATTEMPTS TO INTERFERE; AND (3) IN HELPING WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE ACUTE SOCIAL EMERGENCY OF BEING AFRAID TO RETURN HOME, THE DOCTOR SHOULD BECOME FAMILIAR WITH SOCIAL SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE AREA. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)