Behavior of intrafamilial violence in patients assisting to Psychology consultation

Abstract

We carried out a descriptive transversal study at the Clinico-surgical Teaching Hospital Comandante Faustino Perez Hernández, Matanzas, in a period from January to May 2008, on the behavior of intrafamilial violence in patients assisting to Psychological consultation. It has, as main objective, characterizing intrafamilial violence behavior in these patients, and identifying its most common manifestations. The sample was selected using the simple random method, and was formed by 75 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. To collect the information we used a previously validated semistructured questionnaire, measuring such variables as age, genre, scholarship, if the patients was abused, emotional repercussion of the violent action and some factors propitiating familial abuse. The most relevant outcomes showed that the totality of the group had been abused one or more times, the psychological consequences were unforgettable for individuals, and last, that familial conflicts were favoured by alcoholic beverage drinking, mates' conflicts and familial overcrowding. We concluded that familial violence crosses over all dimensions, leaving marks that are difficult to remove. For that reason patients assist the Psychology consultation looking for specialized help.