NCJ Number
130523
Date Published
1985
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes the various traumatic components of the child-abuse syndrome and examines their impact on the psychopathology, cognitive impairment, and developmental sequelae the authors observed in abused children.
Abstract
The hypotheses presented are based on indepth clinical studies of approximately 50 physically abused children and their families. Data on the children were obtained during their involvement in psychotherapy and play therapy. An additional 30 abused infants and preschool children were studied in a therapeutic nursery. The child-abuse syndrome consists of two main categories of trauma: the acute physical and psychological assault that confronts the child with the threat of annihilation is superimposed on the long-term traumatic components that result from chronic abnormal parenting, such as harsh child rearing, scapegoating, and maternal deprivation. Central nervous system impairment, which is often associated with child abuse, may be an additional source of trauma that aggravates the pathological impact of the acute and long-term components of the abusive environment. Many abused children exhibit the characteristic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. This study hypothesizes that the acute trauma might damage ego structures involved in the reception, processing, and integration of stimuli which contributes to the repetition and re-enactment of the traumatic event. The pathological impact of the long-term traumatic events are most likely exerted on the child's affective development, ego functions involving self-preservation, and the establishment of object relationships and identifications. 31 references