Posttraumatic Relationship Syndrome: A review
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Authors
Westmoreland, Andrea Mae
Issue Date
2014-04-26
Type
poster
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Violence against women is a significant social and public health problem in the United States. Posttraumatic Relationship Syndrome (PTRS) is commonly referred to as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research suggests that as many as 22% to 29% of women report histories of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Furthermore, IPV remains the leading cause of injuries to women with a cost exceeding 5.58 billion dollars annually (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2003). Historically, men have controlled women by oppressing them sexually, socially and physically. This oppression continues in the present day. In this paper, the biopsychosocial consequences of women experiencing PTRS will be explored. Social policies, societal acceptance and cultural beliefs about abuse against women will be reviewed. The DSM V does not currently have a category for symptoms solely based on PTRS. The paper will advocate for the addition of PTRS in future DSMS.
Key words: Posttraumatic relationship syndrome, Intimate partner violence, domestic violence, battered women and violence against women