title: An introduction to parental alienation syndrome.
abstract: Parental alienation syndrome (PAS) can occur during a tumultuous divorce between embattled parents involved in a bitter child custody dispute. During parental warfare, a child is used as a weapon by one parent (alienating parent) against the other parent (alienated/targeted parent). The targeted parent-child relationship once encased with unconditional love is transformed by an unrelenting campaign of denigration, criticism, and hatred. Since nursing literature on PAS is almost nonexistent, the purpose of this article is to increase nursing awareness and provide basic information. Awareness of PAS symptoms and interpersonal dynamics is important to prompt nurses in recommending treatment for families. Nurses should collaboratively join other professionals in their quest to provide the best treatment possible.
authors.affiliation: terribones@wowway.com
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Farkas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002655:Child Custody; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004243:Divorce / Q000523:psychology*; D004493:Education; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012918:Social Alienation / Q000523:psychology*