Recognition and treatment of incestuous families
Fiche mise à jour le 20 décembre 2018
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Description
Recognition and treatment of incestuous families
Résumé :Incest is a major mental health problem, in terms of both prevalence and morbidity. Father-daughter incest constitutes the majority of reported cases. The possibility of incest should be considered in a family which includes a violent father, a disabled mother, a child in an adult maternal role, or an “acting out” adolescent girl. Intervention requires recognition of the criminal and addictive aspects of the father's behavior. Active cooperation between mental health professionals and mandated child protective and law enforcement agencies is necessary for effective treatment. Group therapy and affiliated self-help programs appear to be the treatment modality of choice. Rehabilitation of the family is based upon restoration of the mother-daughter bond as a guarantee of safety for the child.
Mots-clés libres (EN) :Mental health, Health professional, Mental health problem, Social issue, Group therapy