Incest Related Syndromes of Adult Psychopathology

Examines the clinical presentations of adult patients who have suffered childhood incestuous experiences. This book explores the connections between incest and somatoform disorders; disturbances of the self; problems in cognitive functioning; borderline psychopathology; the dissociative disorders; posttraumatic symptoms; and vulnerability to revictimization Incest is a social problem of major proportions affecting the lives of one in six American women. This collection of contributions from the most distinguished experts in the field examines the clinical presentations of adult patients who have suffered childhood incestuous experiences. This book explores the connections between incest and • somatoform disorders• disturbances of the self• problems in cognitive functioning• borderline psychopathology• the dissociative disorders• posttraumatic symptoms• vulnerability to revictimization This collection of contributions from experts in the field attempts to consolidate findings that bear upon the clinical presentations of adult patients who have suffered childhood incestuous exploitation. Although there are many accounts of incest now available from the lay literature, there is relatively little information in psychiatric reference available about how the impact of incest can be minimized, discounted or denied, or appear to play such a peripheral role in a clinical situation that its importance remains unrecognized. This book explores the connections between incest and somatoform disorders, disturbances of the self, problems in cognitive functioning, borderline psychopathology, the dissociative disorders, post-traumatic syndromes, vulnerability to revictimization and other crucial issues.