Treatment implications based on measures of child abuse potential and parent mental health: Are we missing an intervention opportunity?

This paper discusses the results of MMPI-2-RF and Child Abuse Potential Inventory assessments in a sample of identified perpetrators of child maltreatment. Results indicated that child abuse potential (CAP) scores were most strongly correlated with internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety) while correlations between abuse potential and externalizing symptoms (e.g., substance use and aggressive behavior) and thought dysfunctions (e.g., delusions and hallucinations) were comparably weaker. Internalizing problems predicted elevations on the overall CAP Abuse Scale as well as certain CAP subscales, while other classes of problems did not. Because the results of this study indicate a clear relationship between internalizing symptoms and child abuse potential, it is suggested that psychotherapy and other interventions aimed at reducing such symptoms may be beneficial in the prevention of further maltreatment.