When the living room is a battlefield : posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of domestic violence
McCarthy, Jan
When the living room is a battlefield : posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of domestic violence A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at the University of Waikato. McCarthy, Jan - 2005 - 114 p. ; computer file : PDF format (1.79mb)
Thesis (MSC - Psychology) - University of Waikato, 2005. This thesis explores three women's experiences of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as a consequence of being abused by an intimate partner and the impact of PTSD symptoms on their lives. The purpose of this research was to document the impact that PTSD symptoms have on victims of domestic violence. In the first part of the study, in-depth interviews were undertaken with the 3 participants. The results of this study suggest that the impact of PTSD induced by male partner violence has profound effects on victims of domestic violence and their children. Participants' level of impairment ranged from mild to severe. These interviews confirm that PTSD often goes undiagnosed, and therefore untreated. Participants found it difficult to separate the impact of domestic violence on their lives from the impact of their PTSD symptoms. However, there is evidence that 'something', whether it was the domestic violence or the PTSD symptoms, or a combination of both, represented significant barriers to leading happy and healthy lives, over and above the direct impacts of domestic violence per se. This study raised a number of implications regarding the concept of PTSD and its relevance to battered women. The diagnosis of PTSD may help them make sense of, and normalise their experience. However, the 'label' PTSD could pathologise and encourage others to see them as deficient or damaged. In the second part of this study, a survey was mailed to 22 Family Court approved domestic violence programme providers. The findings show that very few include information or discussion about PTSD in their programme content when they discuss the effects of domestic violence. Study findings suggest that staff running domestic violence programmes lack training in this area.--AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION
MENTAL HEALTH
SOCIAL SERVICES
THESES
TREATMENT
VICTIMS
WOMEN
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
CHILD EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE
PREVENTION
616.8521 WHE
When the living room is a battlefield : posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of domestic violence A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at the University of Waikato. McCarthy, Jan - 2005 - 114 p. ; computer file : PDF format (1.79mb)
Thesis (MSC - Psychology) - University of Waikato, 2005. This thesis explores three women's experiences of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as a consequence of being abused by an intimate partner and the impact of PTSD symptoms on their lives. The purpose of this research was to document the impact that PTSD symptoms have on victims of domestic violence. In the first part of the study, in-depth interviews were undertaken with the 3 participants. The results of this study suggest that the impact of PTSD induced by male partner violence has profound effects on victims of domestic violence and their children. Participants' level of impairment ranged from mild to severe. These interviews confirm that PTSD often goes undiagnosed, and therefore untreated. Participants found it difficult to separate the impact of domestic violence on their lives from the impact of their PTSD symptoms. However, there is evidence that 'something', whether it was the domestic violence or the PTSD symptoms, or a combination of both, represented significant barriers to leading happy and healthy lives, over and above the direct impacts of domestic violence per se. This study raised a number of implications regarding the concept of PTSD and its relevance to battered women. The diagnosis of PTSD may help them make sense of, and normalise their experience. However, the 'label' PTSD could pathologise and encourage others to see them as deficient or damaged. In the second part of this study, a survey was mailed to 22 Family Court approved domestic violence programme providers. The findings show that very few include information or discussion about PTSD in their programme content when they discuss the effects of domestic violence. Study findings suggest that staff running domestic violence programmes lack training in this area.--AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION
MENTAL HEALTH
SOCIAL SERVICES
THESES
TREATMENT
VICTIMS
WOMEN
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
CHILD EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE
PREVENTION
616.8521 WHE