RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Battered wife syndrome
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 709
OP 712
VO 130
IS 6
A1 Swanson, R. W.
YR 1984
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/130/6/709.abstract
AB Battered wife syndrome is a symptom complex of physical and psychologic abuse of a woman by her husband. Although it may occur in up to 10% of Canadian women, it largely goes unrecognized. Such women often present with vague somatic complaints, such as headache, insomnia and abdominal pain. Thus, the diagnosis can usually only be made by asking nonthreatening open-ended questions. Most women remain with their husbands because they are afraid of them. Hence, successful treatment usually depends on the woman's leaving her husband and obtaining help in the development of a new self-concept.