title: Psychological/verbal abuse and utilization of mental health care in perinatal women seeking treatment for depression.
abstract: Research on psychological violence has suggested it is common among perinatal women and is predictive of later physical violence. Psychological violence is also a strong correlate of negative mental and physical health outcomes and may influence engagement in health services. Both physical and mental health care are of critical importance for perinatal women who may be especially vulnerable to psychological violence and its deleterious effects. This study examined the clinical records of 299 perinatal patients who received treatment in a psychiatric partial hospital program to determine whether there were differences in utilization of care between those women with and without current interpersonal psychological abuse. More women than expected who reported current psychological abuse left treatment early compared to those without such reports.
authors: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. suzannah.creech@va.gov
authors: Suzannah
authors: S
authors: Creech
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Davis
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Howard
authors: Teri
authors: T
authors: Pearlstein
authors: Caron
authors: C
authors: Zlotnick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*