Victims of Violence: A Demographic and Clinical Study

Abstract

This study is an attempt to evaluate the psychiatric sequelae in victims of violence in Northern Ireland between 1979 and 1984. Seven hundred and nineteen consecutive referrals for medico-legal reports were investigated using detailed analysis of case records. These clients were all seeking compensation for psychological injury allegedly sustained following a violent incident. Details of demographic data, diagnosis and utilization of treatment services were recorded. Clients showed a high rate of anxiety and depressive reactions and neuroses, with notable infrequency in the diagnosis of hysteria and phobic neurosis. A large number of people were prescribed drugs, a significant percentage continuing to take these for over one year. The significance of these results is discussed with regard to the issues of compensation neurosis and ‘nervous shock’.

Psychiatric implications of chronic civilian strife or war: Northern Ireland

“…• • exacerbation of personality traits (Kee et al, 1987), a proportion in keeping with the 20-30% quoted in a recent paper by Adshead (2000).…”

“…Sims, in a smaller study of victims of the Birmingham bomb, found that 5% required psychiatric help (see Curran, 1988). In a large survey of 499 criminal injury litigants who had each been victim of a variety of acts of terrorist and criminal violence, we found that 4.5% required psychiatric in-patient admission, while 11% graduated to NHS out-patient services (Kee et al, 1987). In our most recent survey of 2191 victims, 2% were admitted and 13% referred to either psychiatric out-patients, community psychiatric nurses or counselling services (further details available from the author upon request).…”

“…Just because someone experiences or witnesses an act of violence does not mean that he or she will inevitably develop psychiatric morbidity. Indeed, we have previously described (Kee et al, 1987) how 6% of victims had insufficient clinical evidence to warrant any diagnosis, while a further 7% had mere acute reactions to stress lasting no more than days. The classifications applied in the 1987 study (Box 1)…”