Violence in the family: morbidity and medical consumption.

Morbidity in homes, where family violence occurred, was investigated. Approximately 90% of the women and 60% of the men had been treated in hospital during a five-year period. Treatment in surgical department was most common. More women than men had symptoms indicating psychosomatic or indefinite aetiologies. One fifth of the women reported injuries due to physical violence. The medically certified illness for both men and women was about three times higher than in the general population. The children had twice as many admissions to hospital than controls. The diagnoses of the children were more frequently socially related. An early diagnosis of the family conditions and preventive measures are needed to safeguard against repeated battery and counteract social handicap.