In a medical setting, why and how can the doctor identify the patient as a victim of abuse
Gauthier, C.
Revue Medicale de Liege 66(7-8): 424-429
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0370-629X PMID: 21942076 Document Number: 651008
People who were victims of childhood abuse (sexual, emotional or physical), later on will develop psychosomatic illnesses and psychological problems. These health problems, sad consequences of past abuse, will bring them to consult a physician at one point or another. But, because these patients often do not talk about the ancient trauma, the physician is unaware of this past abuse and only treats the illness' symptoms. Abused people will also develop behavioral problems which put them repeatedly back into the position of victim, without realizing why. If this dysfunctional behavior is not identified as the result of trauma, these multi-abused patients will go from bad to worse, repeating in an endless cycle their role as victim. If the physician is able to identify this typical replay of victimization, the patient can be helped to become aware of and to avoid compulsive self-abusive behaviors which are discussed in the following article.