title: Dowry-related domestic violence and complex posttraumatic stress disorder: a case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper draws attention to the mental health impact of coercive practice of dowry demands, associated with domestic violence (DV) in an immigrant woman.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was based on a case report and selective literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This case history illustrates the serious mental health impacts of repeated emotional and physical trauma inflicted by a husband who was dissatisfied with his wife's dowry. Bio-psycho-social / cultural aspects of mental health treatments needed to be augmented with attention to safety, advocacy, and access to support networks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cultural factors are important determinants of mental illness. Psychiatrists need to be aware of DV and dowry when treating immigrant women.
authors.affiliation: Hon Sen Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Manjula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage; D008603:Mental Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
keywords: domestic violence; dowry; immigrant woman; mental illness