Case Studies in Family Violence / Edition 1

by Robert T. Ammerman, Michel Hersen

Overview

The past 20 years have seen the emergence of family violence as one of the most critical problems facing society. The alarming incidence figures of abuse and neglect directed toward family members justify this atten­ tion. For example, over 1 million children are thought to be abused and neglected each year. Similarly, almost 2 million women are victims of wife battering each year. Annual rates of elderly mistreatment are thought to be as high as 32 per 1000 population. Accurate epidemiologi­ cal data only now are being compiled on more recently recognized forms of mistreatment, such as psychological abuse, ritualistic abuse of chil­ dren, and child witnessing of adult violence. The pervasiveness of do­ mestic mistreatment makes it a priority for clinicians and researchers alike. For clinicians, intrafamilial violence represents a formidable chal­ lenge with respect to assessment and treatment. The etiology of abuse and neglect is multidetermined. There are numerous pathways in the development of family violence, and these interact and converge in a nonlinear fashion. The consequences of family violence are equally com­ plex and divergent. Victims of mistreatment can display a variety of physical injuries and psychological disturbances. No single psychiatric syndrome or symptom constellation has been consistently implicated in any form of family mistreatment. The perpetrators of family violence are equally heterogeneous in their clinical presentations. Illustrative dys­ functions in perpetrators include skill deficits, substance abuse, mental illness, and impulse-control disorders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306436499
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	01/31/1991
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1991
Pages:	406
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.36(d)

Table of Contents

I. General Issues.- 1 Family Violence: A Clinical Overview.- 2 Social and Ecological Issues in Violence toward Children.- 3 The Ecology of Domestic Aggression toward Adult Victims.- 4 Legal Issues in Violence toward Children.- 5 Legal Issues in Violence toward Adults.- 6 Medical Issues with Child Victims of Family Violence.- 7 Medical Issues with Adult Victims of Family Violence.- II. Violence Toward Children.- 8 Child Physical Abuse.- 9 Child Neglect.- 10 Child Sexual Abuse.- 11 Incest.- 12 Ritual Abuse.- 13 Maltreatment of Handicapped Children.- 14 The Child Witness of Family Violence.- 15 Psychological and Emotional Abuse of Children.- III. Violence Toward Adults.- 16 Wife Battering.- 17 Psychological Maltreatment of Spouses.- 18 Marital Rape.- 19 Elder Abuse.- 20 Domestic Homicide.

Editorial Reviews

Highlights complex multidisciplinary issues facing clinicians who work with family violence cases. Each chapter combines two illustrative cases with a broader discussion of issues encountered by clinicians working with families engaged in abuse or neglect. Chapters on violence toward children and toward adults follow identical formats, presenting discussions of medical, legal, social, and family issues, assessment of psychopathology, and treatment options. Ammerman is affiliated with Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Hersen is affiliated with the School of Professional Psychology at Pacific University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

From reviews of the First Edition:
‘[Elucidates] the complex and multidisciplinary clinical issues encountered in treating family violence through the investigation of individual case examples of the different forms of family violence.'
Adolescence
‘Ammerman and Hersen address the expanse of types of family violence. ... [O]ne of the few books that can be used by a wide range of readers including lawyers, physicians, mental health professionals, and educators...[and o]f great value to team efforts to prevent, identify, and treat family violence.... The chapters taken together form a powerful picture of the pervasiveness of domestic mistreatment today...'
Contemporary Psychology

From the Publisher