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The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 19:201-204 (2006)
© 2006 American Board of Family Medicine

Brief Report

Physical and Psychological Symptoms in Emotionally Abused and Non-abused Women

John H. Porcerelli, PhD, Patricia A. West, RN, PhD, Juliann Binienda, MA and Rosemary Cogan, PhD

Department of Family Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI (JHP, JB)
Family Practice Residency, St. John Hospital and Medical Center, St. Clair Shores, MI (PPW)
Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (RC)

Correspondence: Corresponding author: John H. Porcerelli, PhD, Department of Family Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 15400 W. McNichols—2nd Floor, Detroit, MI 48235 (E-mail: jporcer{at}med.wayne.edu)

Background: This brief report compares emotionally abused and non-abused female family practice patients on physical and emotional symptoms, alcohol use problems, and social support problems.

Methods:We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional, multicenter study of victimization of family practice patients. Forty-seven adult women meeting criteria for emotional abuse (within the past year) and no physical abuse were matched demographically with 47 non-abused women. Each woman completed demographic and health history questionnaires, including questions about physical and emotional abuse.

Results:Emotionally abused women reported a greater number of physical (P < .001) and psychological (P < .0001) symptoms than non-abused controls. Emotionally abused women reported a significantly greater number of social support problems than non-abused women (P < .04).

Conclusions:This study supports a growing literature that demonstrates an association between emotional abuse and physical and emotional symptoms in women who are currently suffering emotional abuse at the hands of their partner or ex-partner. It is recommended that physicians inquire about emotional abuse in female patients with multiple psychosocial and physical symptoms.






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Copyright © 2006 by the American Board of Family Medicine.