Citation

Kennedy HG, Dyer DE. Br. J. Psychiatry 1992; 160: 410-412.

Affiliation

Maudsley Hospital, London.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1562872

Abstract

Three men presented to a single regional secure psychiatric unit over a twelve-month period, after taking their youngest child hostage in their own homes because of a threatened separation from the family. In each case the episode had escalated because of hostility to police involvement in what for them was a typical domestic upheaval. All cases ended without injury. In each man, substance abuse, a family history of domestic violence and fears of rejection were prominent, and the recent birth of a child may have been an added precipitant. There may be a common family structure which predisposes to such situations. Psychiatric intervention was deemed appropriate, with some evidence of benefit for the two men who engaged in treatment.

Language: en