NCJ Number
168290
Date Published
1997
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Research on battered women in medical settings has focused primarily on the incidence and prevalence of violence and on the identification of risk markers, and research has also elucidated low rates of battered women in medical settings and barriers to the identification of battered women in these settings.
Abstract
Battered women appear to be frequent users of medical services, both in emergency departments and ambulatory care centers. Physicians are well-positioned to intercept acts of domestic violence and offer support and medical treatment. Nonetheless, domestic violence is grossly underdiagnosed in medical settings. Mental health professionals can improve the detection and treatment of battered women in medical settings by educating physicians and conducting research. Areas of future research include utilization patterns and frequencies, problem complaints, and physician diagnosis. Psychologists can assess the effectiveness of physician training programs. Training programs for physicians to identify and help battered women are described, and the unique role of psychologists and other mental health professionals in designing and evaluating such programs is discussed. 39 references and 2 tables