[Treatment of neglected and abused children and their families in the context of complicated divorce].
BACKGROUND
Coceptualisation of complicated divorce, as an escalation of systemic dysfunctioning in a highly disturbed and unbalanced system, acquires attributes of trauma-organised-system, and yields itself for therapeutic interventions.
The authors comment on their experience while treating families sent by Court order in divorce custody disputes, with explicit aim of evaluating parental competence. This type of systemic dysfunction is severely affecting communication styles, family rules and norms, whereas parenting is frequently marked by tendency to repeat relational-style experienced in marital, partners' conflicts. Feelings of discontent and resentment are projected onto children, and may take form of disqualifications, rejection, discrimination or else, those feelings stemming out of personal ambition such as favoring children. Parental rivalry worsens these processes, leading to attempts of establishing inappropriate level of control over children (instrumentalisation or favorisation). Therefore, care and protection of children is inadequate and children are emotionally neglected


CONCLUSIONS
Many of these highly disturbed families, especially those sent by Court order are engaged in a network of different social, legal and mental health institutions. Intervention plans are thus conceived and specifically tailored to suit individual families, confronting dysfunctional patterns and appealing to enhance parental responsibilities. Overcoming family crisis of complicated divorce where childresn's emotional needs are neglected is highly indicated for systemic intervening. The authors discuss their experience in treating such families and offer their questions, dilemmas and recommendations.
Draganić-Gajić
Saveta
S
Institut za mentalno zdravlje, Beograd. sagomat@eunet.yu
Calovska-Hercog
Nevena
N
Lecić-Tosevski
Dugica
D
Pilija
Vladimir
V