ABSTRACT
The emergence of cult related activities in rural America are examined. Cults and their attraction to adolescents are addressed as are methods of cult indoctrination and a profile of cult members and their leader. Clinical management along with a rationale for the attraction of some adolescents to cults are discussed. A case study of a vampire cult and the psychopathology identified in the leader of the cult are provided. Import for clinicians is offered.
Subject(s)
Antisocial Personality Disorder/psychology , Homicide/psychology , Rural Population , Social Conformity , Adolescent , Antisocial Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Ceremonial Behavior , Fantasy , Female , Humans , Leadership , Male , Object Attachment , Personality Development , Persuasive CommunicationSubject(s)
Child Abuse/diagnosis , Homicide , Adult , Alcoholism/psychology , Child Abuse/psychology , Child, Preschool , Cocaine , Female , Homicide/psychology , Humans , Parent-Child Relations , Self-Injurious Behavior/psychology , Substance-Related Disorders/psychology , Suicide, Attempted/psychology , Violence/psychologyABSTRACT
Clinical efforts in child custody disputes have emphasized preventive measures that address the best interests of the child. Examined herein is the impact of separation and divorce on families and preventive oriented efforts in contested child custody family mediation models. Also addressed are psychological factors in mediation, an identified model of family mediation, and clinical issues in the contested child custody arena.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse/prevention & control , Child Custody/legislation & jurisprudence , Expert Testimony/legislation & jurisprudence , Family Therapy , Child , Child Abuse/legislation & jurisprudence , Divorce/legislation & jurisprudence , Domestic Violence/legislation & jurisprudence , Domestic Violence/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Male , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Examined are several measures currently used in the assessment of child abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma. These measures include structured clinical interviews, self report measures, screening inventory, symptom checklist, and some measures that include decision making properties. Issues and implications for clinical practice are explored.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Personality Assessment/statistics & numerical data , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/diagnosis , Humans , Personality Development , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychologyABSTRACT
The long-term effects of child abuse have received significant attention in the research. The adult who is so affected by the trauma of child abuse is less often studied. The adult non-survivor experiences considerable and ultimately massive decompensation and failure in the ability to cope with and adjust to adult stresses. A case study is presented to illustrate this phenomenon. Issues for clinical practice and further research are identified.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Adult , Child, Preschool , Female , Helplessness, Learned , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Suicide, AttemptedABSTRACT
Child and spouse abuse continues to be a critically important problem for the medical and mental health professions. Examined are recent clinical data and research addressing this most serious concern among military and post-military personnel. Criteria useful in the identification of risk persons and diagnosis and treatment of family violence are discussed. Specific attention is given to the diagnostic indicators, the abusing family profile, the traumatic process of abuse, and strategies relevant to psychiatric intervention. Guidelines for military mental health and medical professionals are explored.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse , Military Personnel/psychology , Spouse Abuse , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Child , Child Abuse/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Risk Factors , Spouse Abuse/diagnosis , ViolenceABSTRACT
The recognition and management of child sexual abuse has gained increased attention by primary care physicians. Examined are the results of a 3-year interdisciplinary clinical treatment program and clinical data which enhance the primary care physician's assessment and management of child sexual abuse. Specific criteria used in diagnosis and strategies for abuse are explored. Psychological factors involved in the adaptation process and long-term impact on the child and family are discussed.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse, Sexual , Family , Patient Care Team , Physicians, Family , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/diagnosis , Child Abuse, Sexual/epidemiology , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Child Abuse, Sexual/therapy , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Kentucky , Male , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
Physicians have developed an increased sensitivity to the recognition and management of spouse abuse. Examined are clinical data and research which will enhance the physician's assessment of spouse abuse. Specific criteria useful in diagnosis and strategies helpful in the assessment process are discussed. Addressed are psychological factors involved in the adaptation process, and the possible long-term effects on the victim are discussed. The role of family physicians and other subspecialties is explored within the context of the recognition and management of spouse abuse.
Subject(s)
Physician's Role , Spouse Abuse/diagnosis , Affective Symptoms/diagnosis , Affective Symptoms/psychology , Humans , Somatoform Disorders/diagnosis , Somatoform Disorders/psychology , Spouse Abuse/psychology , Wounds and Injuries/diagnosis , Wounds and Injuries/psychologyABSTRACT
There is a growing clinical research interest in the long-term effects of victimization in childhood and the difficulty the victimized child may experience in adulthood. Examined are two case illustrations of individuals who were abused as children. The results of their dysfunctional childhood have yielded massive failures to cope and adjust to adult stress situations and have resulted in each case with the development of psychopathology that has impaired their adult lives. Issues and import for clinical practice and future research are discussed.
Subject(s)
Adjustment Disorders/etiology , Child Abuse/psychology , Homicide , Adult , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , SadismABSTRACT
Examined is the clinical use of fables in the evaluation of child sexual abuse. A review of projective assessment, the use of human figure drawings, anatomically correct dolls and projective apperception testing is presented within the context of clinical assessment of child trauma. The efficacy of the fable assessment technique is discussed, as are issues in the use of projective assessment with children. Issues and import for the clinician are explored.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse, Sexual , Projective Techniques , Art , Child , Humans , Play and Playthings , Thematic Apperception TestABSTRACT
Disputed child custody is a significant life stressor for both adults and children. Recent efforts have been made to develop a model for family mediation and subsequent clinical strategies that can attempt to address the stressors involved in divorce and perhaps resolve, through mediation, the posttrauma stress experienced by both spouses and children. Reviewed is the literature on the impact of separation and divorce on families and the use of family mediation to resolve disputes. It further addresses psychologic factors involved in the mediation process and the possible effects of mediation on divorce. An established family mediation model for treatment is presented in detail, as are clinical issues often addressed in the family mediation process. Issues and import for clinical application and research are offered.
Subject(s)
Child Advocacy/legislation & jurisprudence , Divorce/legislation & jurisprudence , Legal Guardians , Child , HumansSubject(s)
Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Projective Techniques , Art , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Family medicine has only begun to explore the extent of its contribution to the process of family mediation--the clinical application of conflict resolution theory to the divorce process. This article reviews the literature on the impact of separation and divorce on families and recommends the use of family mediation as a clinical strategy to sensitize parents to the needs of the children during the divorcing process. Goals of family mediation include the assurance that the children have frequent and continuing contact with natural parents to the extent that this is to the benefit of the child. A specific model of family mediation is presented and the role of family physicians in the mediation is explored.
