Battered woman syndrome: a conceptual analysis of its status vis-à-vis DSM IV mental disorders.
Literature on battered woman syndrome is examined with a view to validating the use of the word 'syndrome'. It is concluded that there is now sufficient information to justify its serious consideration as a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, as that diagnosis is defined in DSM IV: and that this has significance for the legal defence of battered women who react aggressively towards their abusers.
Roth
D L
DL
Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
Coles
E M
EM
D018585:Battered Women / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008398:Masochism / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013577:Syndrome