The spectrum of fetal abuse in pregnant women

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
J T Condon

Abstract

Physical assault by a woman or her partner upon their unborn child has received minimal attention in the psychiatric or obstetric literature. The spectrum concept facilitates the application of knowledge about one type of fetal abuse (e.g., physical assault in response to fetal movements) to other types (e.g., neglect or failure to protect the fetus from chemical assault by alcohol, nicotine, or drugs). Three illustrative case histories are presented, including two cases of assault by the mother via the anterior abdominal wall. Fetal abuse may be one antecedent of child abuse, and this paper attempts to transpose the known correlates of child abuse into an antenatal time framework. The resultant preliminary etiological model also draws upon research findings from neonaticide, the psychology of pregnancy, and the psychology of aggression. In addition, recent research on the maternal-paternal-fetal triad is reviewed in an attempt to delineate under what circumstances ambivalence in the parental-fetal relationship may find expression as fetal abuse. The characteristics of individuals most at risk of perpetrating fetal abuse are outlined.

Citations

Feb 4, 2010·Archives of Women's Mental Health·John Condon
Mar 1, 1990·Journal of Nurse-midwifery·B G Barbour
Jul 25, 2000·Child Abuse & Neglect·M ZelenkoH Steiner
Feb 1, 1997·Child Abuse & Neglect·L KentI F Brockington
Jan 8, 2000·Child Abuse & Neglect·P H Pollock, A Percy
Nov 8, 2002·Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica·Jens WesselUlrich Buscher
Sep 19, 2002·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·Priscilla K ColemanJesse Cougle
Dec 1, 1995·Birth·A M Spielvogel, H C Hohener
Feb 1, 1996·The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry·M Frost, J T Condon
Jan 1, 1990·Criminal Justice Ethics·Kathleen Nolan
Jun 3, 2011·World Psychiatry : Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA)·Ian BrockingtonIsabel Quadros Ferre
Nov 7, 2006·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Klaus M BeierJens Wessel
Nov 1, 1987·The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology·J T Condon
Apr 4, 2006·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Karen L Lawson, Shelley I Turriff-Jonasson
Apr 24, 2015·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·Kevin Li-Chun HsiehCheng-Yu Chen
Oct 26, 2018·Archives of Women's Mental Health·Paula Fernandez AriasClaudia M Klier
Jan 1, 1991·The Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis·P V Trad
Apr 18, 1988·The Medical Journal of Australia·J T Condon, C A Hilton
Dec 7, 1992·The Medical Journal of Australia·P W Goss, P N McDougall

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
B Egeland, D Brunnquell
Child Abuse & Neglect
L KentIan Brockington
Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
M Brozovsky, H Falit
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
C M Green, S V Manohar
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved