PTSD in Battered Women

POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN BATTERED WOMEN

This research examines for evidence of a relationship between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and battering where battering is defined by Coffman and Fallon (1989) as a patter of physical abuse (assaults, threats, or restraints) used by one person (usually the male) to control another. Specifically, the research consists of a paper which examines the connection between PTSD and the Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS). It includes historical research on both PTSD and BSW and is complimented with a review of on-the-job clinical experience with a group of battered women.

The first chapter of the research presents a description of the basic nature of the study. Chapter two reviews the rationale for the study and its benefits to the field of psychology. Chapter three defines and outlines both disorders, outlines the theoretical background on each and reviews the similarities and differences between them.

Chapter four summarizes the conclusions that can be made on the basis of the reviewed research and then draws conclusions to the research question based on informal interview data collected from battered women. Ideas for future research are outlined.

Dworetzky (1985) reports that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be considered an anxiety response to a severe trauma arising from exceptional or unexpected circumstances. In more precise clinical terms, the symptoms of Pos

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r, Kushner, Riggs, Foa and Miller (1992) have found the presence of a supportive environment crucial to both the development and recovery from PTSD. Treatment of PTSD Treatments for PTSD can vary. Embry's (1990) work with combat veterans uses a four-fold approach involving: (1) building rapport by focusing on the personal meaning of the trauma; (2) giving the client permission to express all personal feelings concerning the trauma; (3) assisting the client to release self from the "sick" role; and (4) focusing on the here-and-now as well as upon the trauma. Behavior Therapy has also produced some good results. Foa, Rothbaum, Riggs and Murdock (1991) worked with a rape victim using a "flooding" procedure involving continuous imagination of the rape episode. The authors found that the flooding procedure was more effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, rape-related distress and general anxiety than was supportive counseling or even other behavioral interventions including stress inoculation training or cognitive restructuring. According to Foa et al (1991), one of the pivotal components producing success for the intervention was confronting the anxiety directly which produced a positive change in the rape memory. One of the mo

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