RT Book, Section
A1 Bernet, William
A2 Ebert, Michael H.
A2 Loosen, Peter T.
A2 Nurcombe, Barry
A2 Leckman, James F.
SR Print(0)
ID 3291295
T1 Chapter 42. Child Maltreatment
T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry, 2e
YR 2008
FD 2008
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-142292-5
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=3291295
RD 2024/04/23
AB The  legal  definitions  regarding  child  maltreatment  vary  from  state  to  state.  In  general,  neglect  is  the  failure  to  provide  adequate  care  and  protection  for  children.  It  may  involve  failure  to  feed  the  child  adequately,  provide  medical  care,  provide  appropriate  education,  or  protect  the  child  from  danger.  Physical  abuse  is  the  infliction  of  nonaccidental  injury  by  a  caretaker.  It  may  take  the  form  of  beating,  punching,  kicking,  biting,  or  other  methods.  The  abuse  can  result  in  injuries  such  as  broken  bones,  internal  hemorrhages,  bruises,  burns,  and  poisoning.  Cultural  factors  should  be  considered  in  assessing  whether  the  discipline  of  a  child  is  abusive  or  normative.  Sexual  abuse  of  children  refers  to  sexual  behavior  between  a  child  and  an  adult  or  between  two  children  when  one  of  them  is  significantly  older  or  more  dominant.  The  sexual  behaviors  include  the  following:  touching  breasts,  buttocks,  and  genitals,  whether  the  victim  is  dressed  or  undressed;  exhibitionism;  fellatio;  cunnilingus;  penetration  of  the  vagina  or  anus  with  sexual  organs  or  with  objects;  and  pornographic  photography.  Emotional  abuse  occurs  when  a  caretaker  causes  serious  psychological  injury  by  repeatedly  terrorizing  or  berating  a  child.  When  serious,  it  is  often  accompanied  by  neglect,  physical  abuse,  sexual  abuse,  and  exposure  to  domestic  violence.