title: What can psychiatrists do to better support victims of family violence?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article aims to draw psychiatrists' attention to the problem of family violence and offer pragmatic guidance to detect and manage family violence in the psychiatric context.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective narrative review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Family violence involves complex interactions between societal, cultural, family and individual factors. Awareness and understanding of family violence is important for psychiatrists as engagement can result in enhanced opportunities for early intervention and harm reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are barriers facing psychiatrists regarding successful family violence intervention outcomes. Concerted action is required to improve services and support to victims and perpetrators.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrist and Hon Senior Fellow, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Manjula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Policy Officer, Victorian Branch, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia david.castle@svha.org.au.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Castle
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D011570:Psychiatry
keywords: barriers; family violence; psychiatry; women