NCJ Number
165077
Journal
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma Issue: 1 Dated: (1997) Pages: 79-94
Date Published
1997
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Physician training is important in identifying and helping battered women, and psychologists and other mental health professionals play a unique role in designing and evaluating programs for these women.
Abstract
Battered women appear to be frequent users of medical services, in both emergency departments and ambulatory care centers, and physicians are well-positioned to intercept acts of domestic violence and offer support and medical treatment. Even so, domestic violence is grossly underdiagnosed in medical settings and physician training is needed to deal with the problem. In addition, mental health professionals can improve the detection and treatment of battered women in medical settings by educating physicians, conducting research, and disseminating findings. Psychologists may be particularly well-suited to assess the effectiveness of physician training programs. These programs should focus on the dynamics of domestic violence, observational and interviewing skills, risk assessment, safety planning, follow-up, and documentation. Although physician training is important, costs of medical education will require that clear benefits be demonstrated. Program evaluation research will therefore be an important contribution of the mental health professional to medical education. Despite a plethora of articles on the topic of wife abuse, little empirical information is available about characteristics of battered women in medical settings. Areas of future research should include utilization patterns and frequencies, problem complaints, and physician diagnoses. 39 references and 2 tables