NCJ Number
68659
Journal
Annals of Emergency Medicine Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1980) Pages: 84-91
Date Published
1980
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME, AS A PHYSICAL-PSYCHOSOCIAL ENTITY FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED IN HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS, IS DISCUSSED FROM A PHYSICIAN'S PERSPECTIVE FOR ITS MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS.
Abstract
THE BATTERED WOMEN SYNDROME IS NOW RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES, AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION'S INTEREST IN THIS COMPLEX PHENOMENON IS INCREASING. A WASHINGTON STATE'S HOSPITAL PHYSICIAN CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF BATTERED WOMEN TREATED IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR DIAGNOSIS, DEFINE THERAPY, AND CONCEPTUALIZE A THEORETICAL MODEL OF THE BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME. A TOTAL OF 620 ADULT WOMEN VOLUNTEERS AND 30 ACUTELY BATTERED ADULT WOMEN WERE STUDIED DURING A 10-WEEK PERIOD. THE VOLUNTEER GROUP INDICATED THAT 35 PERCENT OF WOMEN WITH ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS HAVE HISTORIES OF BATTERY. PSYCHIATRIC HISTORY IN EITHER PARTNER, PARENTAL DIVORCE AND BATTERY, ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUG USAGE, SIGNIFICANT CRIMINAL HISTORY, MARRIAGE COUNSELING, AND DIVORCE WERE IDENTIFIED AS SIGNIFICANT CORRELATES WITH SPOUSE ABUSE. A SURVEY OF HISTORICAL AND PHYSICAL FINDINGS AND A REVIEW OF CURRENT LITERATURE ARE INCLUDED. EIGHTEEN REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.