annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

justice options in the form of punitive damages.Ratcliffe, G. (1998). The Social Security (Conjugal Status) Amendment Bill. The Bulletin of the NewZealand Psychological Society, (93), 26-30.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13098.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Physical abuse, Psychological/emotional abuse,Women, Legislation, Mental healthAbstract: This article discusses the ramifications of The Social Security (Conjugal Status)Amendment Bill (1997), and reasons why the New Zealand Psychological Society opposesthe Bill. The article explains the phases of the cycle of partner abuse, and the psychologicalconsequences of domestic violence. The reasons why women fail to leave violentrelationships are discussed. The author explores common long-term consequences of physicalabuse, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, learned helplessness, depression and anxiety.The article argues that the Bill does not acknowledge Battered Woman Syndrome or thecontext of intimate partner abuse. Potential problems with the Bill are identified, and theauthor suggests that the Bill does not protect women from violence, but further victimisesthem.Read, J., & Fraser, A. (1998). Abuse histories of psychiatric inpatients: to ask or not to ask?[Electronic version]. Psychiatric Services, 49(3), 355-359.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12948.pubTopic Areas: Child abuse and neglect, Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Mental healthAbstract: This study examined the prevalence of childhood sexual and physical abuse forpsychiatric inpatients. It analysed the reporting rates of abuse among inpatients depending onwhether or not they were asked bout being abused as a child on admission. One hundredmedical records were analysed from the acute psychiatric inpatient unit of a New Zealandurban general hospital. The medical records included people experiencing various psychiatricdisorders, such as major depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder, and posttraumaticstress disorder. A comparison was made between records using the old admission form andrecords where the new form, which includes a section on abuse history, was completed onadmission. Findings suggest that the inclusion of an abuse section on admission forms bearsno significant impact on client disclosure rates. This report also suggests that findingsunderestimate the prevalence of abuse. The authors propose that this information is highlyimportant for the purposes of clinical management.Read, J., & Fraser, A. (1998). Staff response to abuse histories of psychiatric inpatients. Australianand New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 32(2), 206-213.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13079.pubTopic Areas: Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Mental health, Social services, Prevention/intervention/treatment, Demographics/statisticsAbstract: This study ascertained the responses of staff in a New Zealand psychiatric inpatientunit to the knowledge that patients had been subjected to sexual or physical abuse, inchildhood or adulthood. The medical records of 100 consecutive admissions were examinedand staff response was measured in terms of acquiring information about previous treatmentfor, or disclosure of, abuse; providing information, support or counselling duringhospitalisation; reporting to legal authorities; and referring for ongoing abuse counselling. Of155