ADDRESSING CHILDHOOD MALTREATMENT: A PRACTICAL APPROACH FOR THE CHILD PSYCHIATRIST IN A CHANGING HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Abstract

Objectives: Childhood maltreatment is a pervasive problem with long-lasting and intergenerational consequences for both mental and physical health. Child and adolescent psychiatrists frequently evaluate youth who are experiencing the lasting effects of maltreatment and should be well-versed in the current recommendations for the assessment, evaluation, and treatment of maltreated children. Methods: Four presentations will examine various aspects of the medical and mental health evaluation of maltreated children and adolescents, evidence-based treatment approaches, and mechanisms of intergenerational transmission. Special consideration will be given to how COVID-19 has affected the experience of maltreated youth and how technology may support or create barriers in the evaluation and treatment of maltreated children and adolescents. Results: The first presentation will focus on approaches to the assessment and evaluation of child maltreatment. The second presentation will address the scope of practice of child abuse pediatrics, including the medical evaluation of suspected abuse, commonly observed injuries, and changes in reporting, prevalence, and evaluation methods that occurred thus far during the COVID-19 pandemic. The third presentation will discuss the evidence base and trauma-informed approaches for the application of psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic treatments in survivors of maltreatment. The final presentation will explore the role of the intergenerational transmission of childhood maltreatment on child behavioral and mental health outcomes and will discuss additional therapeutic interventions. Conclusions: Child abuse is a pervasive problem with significant physical and mental health morbidity. Despite the growing recognition of the lasting and intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment, it is still underrecognized and underreported. The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced both the assessment and treatment of childhood maltreatment as encounters have shifted to virtual settings. It is vital for child and adolescent mental health providers to stay informed of structural changes and evidence-based advances in the diagnosis, protection, evaluation, and treatment of maltreated children. TRA, CAN, EBP