NCJ Number
57078
Journal
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD Volume: 52 Issue: 9 Dated: (1977) Pages: 708-712
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF THE BENE-ANTHONY FAMILY RELATIONS TEST TO INVESTIGATE DEFINITE OR SUSPECTED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE IS ILLUSTRATED WITH THREE CASE HISTORIES. TEST RESULTS SHOULD BE PART OF THE EVIDENCE PREPARED FOR COURT.
Abstract
THE TEST CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF CARDBOARD FIGURES REPRESENTING PEOPLE OF VARIOUS AGES FROM GRANDPARENTS TO A BABY IN A PRAM. THE CHILD SELECTS FIGURES TO REPRESENT THE IMPORTANT PERSONS IN HIS OR HER EMOTIONAL LIFE. A SERIES OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE STATEMENTS ARE READ TO THE CHILD, WHO CAN 'MAIL' THEM INTO A BOX UNDER ANY FIGURE THE STATEMENT FITS. THREE CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATE HOW THIS TEST CAN MEASURE A CHILD'S ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE FAMILY. A 4-YEAR-OLD BOY REVEALED A STRONGLY NEGATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER. HE HAD BEEN ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER A SEVERE BEATING BY THE MOTHER AND WAS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ENCOPRESIS (INVOLUNTARY DEFACATION OF PSYCHIC ORIGIN) AND POSSIBLE MENTAL RETARDATION. THE TEST PINPOINTED THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MOTHER AS A MAJOR CAUSATIVE FACTOR IN THE ENCOPRESIS. A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR FAILURE TO THRIVE GAVE HIGHLY UNUSUAL RESPONSES THAT ENABLED INVESTIGATORS TO GET TO THE BASIC PROBLEM, WHICH WAS A SERIOUS DISTURBANCE IN THE PSYCHODYNAMICS OF THE FAMILY. THE TEST OF A 6-YEAR-OLD BOY REVEALED THAT THE GRANDMOTHER WAS THE ABUSING FIGURE. INVESTIGATORS RECOMMENDED REMOVING HIM FROM THE HOME BECAUSE HIS PARENTS COULD NOT PROTECT HIM; HE IS THRIVING IN A FOSTER HOME. THE TEST DOES NOT PROVIDE ANSWERS BUT IT CAN ALERT CLINICIANS TO THE APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS. WHEN A COURT CASE IS BEING PREPARED, RESULTS OF THE TEST SHOULD BE PART OF THE EVIDENCE. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)