Assessments of emotional abuse and neglect with the CTQ: Issues and estimates

ObjectiveThe current study had two goals. The first goal was to review the empirical studies using the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and identify outstanding methodological issues pertaining to use of the measure as it related to the emotional abuse and emotional neglect scales. The second goal was to ascertain the levels of emotional abuse and emotional neglect in both clinical, community, and victim samples.MethodsSixty-nine studies were found that used the 28-item CTQ in North American samples and which reported either scale means and/or proportions in the sample meeting one or more designated cut-offs.ResultsFive methodological issues were identified that impede the ability of researchers to build on the existing knowledge base. In addition, analyses revealed that 15.4% of the community samples reported severe to extreme emotional abuse and 13.1% reported severe to extreme emotional neglect. In the clinical samples the rates were 32.2% for severe to extreme emotional abuse and 19.1% severe to extreme emotional neglect.ConclusionsAlthough greater consistency in the use of the CTQ would enhance knowledge utilization, the current extant literature reveals that between 15% and one third of a sample of adults will probably report childhood experience of one or both forms of psychological maltreatment.Practice implicationsGreater public awareness of the prevalence and outcomes of psychological maltreatment is necessary. In addition, parenting programs need to incorporate what we know about psychological maltreatment in order to reduce its incidence. The development of abuse-specific treatment for psychologically abusive parents and child victims is also an important area for attention and program development.