NCJ Number
58252
Journal
Psychiatric Quarterly Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 38-44
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
CASE HISTORIES OF TWO PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED IN A CLOSED PSYCHIATRIC UNIT FOR CHILD ABUSE, BOTH REAL AND IMAGINARY, ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
TWO PATIENTS ARE PRESENTED, ONE WHO PHYSICALLY ABUSED HER FOUR-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND THE OTHER WHO ABUSED HER INFANT IN FANTASY. DEVELOPMENTAL AND FAMILY DYNAMICS WERE REMARKABLY SIMILAR IN BOTH CASES. BOTH WOMEN HAD PRONOUNCED PROBLEMS WITH SIBLING RIVALRY; BOTH TENDED TO PERCEIVE OF THEIR HUSBANDS AS THEIR FATHERS AND TO VIEW THEIR CHILDREN AS INTRUDERS INTO THE MARITAL RELATIONSHIP. IN BOTH CASES, CHILDREN WERE DEPERSONIFIED AND PRECONSCIOUSLY VIEWED AS YOUNGER SIBLINGS WITH WHOM THEY HAD TO COMPETE FOR THEIR HUSBAND'S LOVE. EXPERIENCE WITH THESE TWO CASES SUGGESTS THAT INSIGHT INTO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES OF CHILD ABUSE MIGHT BE FURTHERED BY A DETAILED STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SPOUSES AND BY BEING ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE ABUSIVE MOTHER VIEWS THE CHILD AS AN INTRUSIVE YOUNGER SIBLING. IN ADDITION, SUCCESSFUL PSYCHOTHERAPY MUST INCLUDE MARITAL THERAPY, AND AT SOME POINT IN THE COURSE OF THERAPY HOSPITALIZATION MAY BE NECESSARY, NOT SO MUCH TO SEPARATE THE PATIENT FROM THE CHILD AS TO SEPARATE THE PATIENT FROM THE HUSBAND UPON WHOM SHE HAS BECOME OVERLY DEPENDENT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (LWM)