CHILDHOOD EMOTIONAL ABUSE

Background. The assessment and management of childhood emotional abuse is of increasing importance in psychiatric practice. At present there are no consensus views about the definition of emotional abuse and in formation from research is limited. Method. Information about emotiona l abuse from the medical, psychological, social science and legal lite rature is summarised. Definitions and proposed mechanisms of damage ar e discussed. Current research data and an overview of childhood and ad ult sequelae are presented. Proposals for clinical and medico-legal pr actice are made. Results. Theoretical models of emotional abuse and it s consequences are derived from theories of childhood psychological de velopment. Empirical research is beginning to show that emotional abus e may have a profound effect on aspects of psychological development i n children. Conclusions. The developmental theories and methods of ass essment well established in psychiatry are useful approaches to the cl inical assessment and further understanding of emotional abuse.