Abstract
Thirty physically abused women were randomly selected from the population of a local women's shelter and evaluated by psychiatric interview and psychiatric rating scales. High prevalences of major depression disorder (37%) and PTSD (47%) were determined. Furthermore, these disorders were found to be positively associated. These results suggest the need for immediate availability of psychiatric services at such shelters along with further study of their populations and possible intervention strategies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hilberman E: Overview: The “wife-beater's wife” reconsidered. American Journal of Psychiatry 137:1336–1347, 1980.
Rounsaville B, Weissman MM: Battered women: A medical problem requiring detection. “Yale Study.” International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine 8(2):191–202, 1977–78.
Mitchell RE, Hodson CA: Coping with domestic violence: Social support and Psychological health among battered women. “Stanford Study.” American Journal of Community Psychology 11:629–654, 1983.
Hillard PJA: Physical abuse in pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology 66:185–190, 1985.
Bergman B, Larson G, Brismar B, et al: Psychiatric morbidity and personality characteristics of battered women. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 76:678–683, 1987.
Jacobson A, Richardson B: Assault experiences of 100 psychiatric inpatients: Evidence of the need for routine inquiry. American Journal of Psychiatry 144:908–913, 1987.
Zimmerman M, Coryell W, Corenthal C, et al: A self-report scale to diagnose major depressive disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry 43:1076–1081, 1986.
Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, Gibbon M: Structured clinical interview for DSM-III (SCID). New York, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Biometrics Research, 1985.
Kantor, EK, Straus MA: Substance abuse as a precipitant of wife abuse victimizations. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 15:173–189, 1989.
Straus M: Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The conflict tacts (CT) scales. Journal of Marriage and Family, p 75–88, 1979.
Landis JR, Koch GG: The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics 33:159–174, 1977.
Fleiss JL: Statistical methods for rates and proportions, 2nd ed. New York, John Wiley & Sons, p 219, 1981.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Adelaida Fernandez, M.D., is in private practice in Chandler, Arizona. James Randolph Hillard, M.D., is Chairman, Dept. of Psychiatry, Univ. of Cincinnati Medical College. Mary Schoof, M.D., is in private practice in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Joseph Parks, M.D., is in private practice in Chicago, Illinois.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
West, C.G., Fernandez, A., Hillard, J.R. et al. Psychiatric disorders of abused women at a shelter. Psych Quart 61, 295–301 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064869
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064869