Psychosocial Consequences and Treatments for Maltreated Children

Abstract

Research shows that child abuse and neglect and exposure to trauma in childhood is highly prevalent and can result in developmental disruption, significant psychosocial, behavioral, and physical health problems, as well as cognitive deficits in children. Abused children have higher levels of involvement in the child welfare system and many of the children in need of mental health services do not receive services. When mental health services are received, the majority of children do not receive high-quality, effective mental health treatment that is matched to their specific needs. Fortunately, effective treatments exist for abused and trauma-exposed children that address both the consequences of abuse and trauma and the causes of abuse and neglect. Evidence-based treatments (EBT) are now recommended standard of care. EBTs are intervention programs specific to the clinical target for which they have been shown to work, proven to have overall better results compared to non-specific or alternative interventions. This chapter will discuss evidence-based mental health intervention approaches for the primary targets of externalizing and internalizing problems focusing on treatments for child behavior problems (e.g., child oppositionality, defiance, and aggression, parenting behaviors (e.g., emotionally and physically harsh, coercive, abusive, and/or neglectful), and child psychological distress(i.e., posttraumatic stress, anxiety and depression). Increasing availability of these interventions within the child welfare system through proactive brokering for access to these interventions is emphasized. An “evidence-based service planning” (EBSP) approach is described to promote connecting families with relevant services, tracking their response and outcomes, and optimally prescribing a service or set of services designed to benefit children and families.