American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report on Psychological Maltreatment

This report updates current knowledge and approaches to psychological maltreatment.

Dr. C. Henry Kempe and colleagues published the first study on the battered-child syndrome in 1962 (JAMA 1962; 181:17). Their focus was on severe physical abuse and neglect. Prior to that, child maltreatment received limited attention in clinical medicine, but during the intervening 5 decades, prevention and early recognition of abuse and neglect as well as management strategies have become core components of pediatric practice. Less attention has been directed to psychological maltreatment — the most challenging and prevalent form of child abuse and neglect. The report states that “psychological maltreatment refers to a repeated pattern of caregiver behavior that is likely to be interpreted by a child that he or she is unloved, unwanted, o…

Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics