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Review
. 2018 Sep;32(3):133-148.
doi: 10.1007/s40211-018-0267-0. Epub 2018 Apr 13.

[Parental Alienation (Syndrome) - A serious form of child psychological abuse]

[Article in German]
Wilfrid von Boch-Galhau  1
Affiliations
Review

[Parental Alienation (Syndrome) - A serious form of child psychological abuse]

[Article in German]
Wilfrid von Boch-Galhau. Neuropsychiatr. 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Induced parental alienation is a specific form of psychological child abuse, which is listed in DSM-5, the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), under diagnostic code V 995.51 "child psychological abuse". Untreated induced parental alienation can lead to long-term traumatic psychological and physical effects in the children concerned. This fact is still not given sufficient attention in family court cases. The article gives a condensed overview of parental alienation, summarising its definition, the symptoms and the various levels of severity. It also describes some major alienation techniques and possible psychosomatic and psychiatric effects of induced parental alienation. Finally, attention is drawn to programmes of prevention and intervention now used and evaluated in some countries. The article concludes with two real-life examples from psychiatric practice, and a comprehensive list of international references.

Keywords: Child psychological abuse; High conflict separation/divorce; Induced parent-child-alienation; Intervention programs; Parental Alienation; Psychological long term consequences.

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