Child maltreatment

Child abuse is a relatively common experience in childhood which is at the very least unpleasant, and at worst, fatal. Non-fatal child abuse causes a variety of harmful effects, mostly psychological but sometimes also physical. This article covers the different forms this abuse may take, and discusses the risk factors which can be identified. It also suggests how maltreatment can be recognized and how it should be managed (from response to initial disclosure, to treating the lasting effects).