Citation

Stein DJ, Boshoff D, Traut A, Daniels F, Abrahams H, de Bruyn JH, van der Spuy J. S. Afr. Med. J. 1997; 87(8): 999-1000.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, W Cape.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, South African Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9323407

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with fresh trauma are frequently victims of interpersonal violence. Nevertheless, few South African studies have documented the history surrounding such assaults and their management. METHODS: Patients presenting with fresh trauma to the Trauma Unit of Tygerberg Hospital were selected in order to provide a representative sample. Where patients were victims of interpersonal violence, a history of the current and previous assault(s) was taken. RESULTS: Victims of interpersonal violence often reported that they had been involved in such violence on previous occasions. Nevertheless, these patients had rarely received management from psychosocial services. Patients with a previous history of having been assaulted had a number of distinct characteristics, including female gender and increased substance use. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma has justifiably been described as a recurrent disease. There is an urgent need for effective psychosocial services for victims of interpersonal violence; ideally, this would prevent future multiple hospital admissions.

Language: en