F.A.Q

F.A.Q

1.      Is child abuse causing long-term effects a new issue?

a.       No, there are new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics that have updated older reports linking abuse and long-term effects.  These new guidelines are built on previous information that suggests pediatricians pay attention for signs of maltreatment.  These guidelines have connected early childhood trauma to both medical and psychological complications.  Such complications begin during the trauma in childhood and continue into adulthood. With these new guidelines pediatricians will be able to identify children who are potentially being abused.  Pediatricians can then help these children before the abuse causes chronic stress and leads to behavior problems. (Garner, et al., 2012)

Long-Term Effects

Child Maltreatment

Child Abuse

2.      What types of abuse causes behavioral problems?

a.       There are five different forms of abuse that can cause chronic stress on a child. The different forms of abuse include neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and abandonment. If the child’s basic needs are not being fulfilled by a parent, guardian, or caretaker, this is NEGLECT.  If a child is harmed on purpose by a parent, guardian, or caregiver, this is physical abuse.  Forcing a sexual act onto a child is considered sexual abuse.  These acts can include fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, and indecent exposure.  The last form of child abuse is abandonment. This is a type of neglect and happens when a parent, guardian, or caregiver leaves a child and fails to provide reasonable support (Child Welfare, 2016)

Abuse

Types

3.      What are the signs of abuse pediatricians should watch for?

a.       Signs of abuse differs depending on the type of abuse, extent of abuse, and who is the abuser.  Pediatricians must assess each child on a case by case base. (Child Welfare, 2013)

Definitions

4.      What types of health problems can children develop after being abused?

a.       After being abused some children develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can be linked with depression, anxiety or disruptive or defiant behaviors.

b.      Children can also develop attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (behavior problems, 2017)

PTSD

ADHD

5.      What causes these behavior problems to develop?

a.       When children suffer abuse their bodies are under stress.  Exposure to toxic stress disrupts the normal development of a child’s brain.  Particularly, the development of adaptive capacities and coping skills that are vital later in life.  Without these skills children are at a high risk of developing behavior problems.  (behavior problems, 2017)

Behavior

6.      What is PTSD?

a.       Post-traumatic stress disorder is considered to be a mental health problem.  It is brought on by different traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse, being a witness to a life-threatening event, or experiencing a life-threatening event themselves. 

b.      People who suffer from PTSD often have a hard time sleeping, feel upset often, feel on edge, and have memories that cause them to be upset. PTSD can cause an individual to have a hard time doing their normal routine things such as going to work and even being surrounded by their families. 

c.       Anyone who has been through a traumatic experience can develop PTSD.  However, factors such as age, gender, history of traumatic exposure, events following the traumatic event, and stress can make PTSD more likely to develop.  Support from family and friends to reduce the risk of developing PTSD.

d.      There are four different types of symptoms of PTSD and they can be different for each individual.

                                                              i.      Having flashbacks or reliving the event.  Individuals may feel like they are experiencing the event again.

                                                            ii.      Avoiding any situation that reminds them of the event.  These individuals avoid situations that can trigger memories of their traumatic experience.

                                                          iii.      Developing negative thought and feelings.  PTSD can cause people to start thinking of themselves in a negative way and cause them to become uninterested in things they once enjoyed.  

                                                          iv.      Feeling hyperarousal.  Individuals become anxious and may be paranoid that there is danger. They can become angry, irritated, have trouble sleeping, or startle easily (PTSD: National Center for PTSD, 2016)

Definition

Information

7.      Is PTSD different for children than adults?

a.       Children suffering from PTSD often experience different symptoms than adults. Younger children (under the age of 6) often wet to bed, even after they have been toilet trained.  Some children forget how to talk, they act out the trauma during playtime, and they become over clingy with a parent or other adult. As the child gets older their symptoms start to resemble that of an adult. Teens often develop behaviors that tend to be disruptive, disrespectful, and/or destructive. (PTSD: National Center for PTSD, 2016)

Definition

Information

8.      What is ADHD?

a.       According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.

b.      Inattention is when a person cannot focus and is disorganized

c.       Hyperactivity is when the person cannot sit still, they are up and about constantly.

d.      Impulsivity is when people act without thinking about the situation first.

e.       A pediatrician, psychologist, or psychiatrist with expertise in ADHD can diagnose a person only after completing a comprehensive evaluation. The symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity must be chronic, long lasting and interfere with the normal development of the individual. ADHD symptoms can appear as early as between the ages of 3 and 6 and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms change over time as the child becomes older. 

f.        There is no cure for ADHD, but treatments can help reduce symptoms and improve functioning. Treatments can include medication, psychotherapy, education or training, or a combination of treatments. (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity, 2016)

Definition

Information

9.      What role does the pediatrician play in helping children who have been or are being abused?

a.       Pediatricians are vital in preventing the long-term effects of child abuse in children.  They are the ones who can identify that abuse is happening and get the child intervention.  They are also the ones that treat the child after abuse has occurred, whether that is for physical injuries or behavioral problems (Garner, et al., 2012)

Pediatrician

10.  What is the current screening process pediatricians use to identify abuse?

a.       A thorough assessment of each individual must be made and include the following areas. . .

                                                              i.      Abuse-related information

1.      Characteristics of the abuse

2.      Type of response to the child's disclosure

3.      Type of legal involvement expected

4.      Current living situation

5.      Cognitions/attributions about abuse

                                                            ii.      Behavioral functioning

1.      Sexualized behavior

2.      Aggression

3.      Withdrawal

4.      Self-destructive behavior

5.      Substance abuse

6.      Suicidal thoughts/behaviors

                                                          iii.      Emotional functioning

1.      Depression

2.      Anxiety

3.      Fear

4.      Anger

5.      Trauma-specific symptoms

6.      Social functioning

7.      Peer involvement

8.      Social skills

9.      School achievement and behavior (Lipovsky & Hanson)

abuse

Evaluation

11.  Are the parents screened by professionals in abuse cases?

a.       Yes, parents undergo thorough assessments by professionals in suspected abuse cases. These assessments can include:

                                                              i.      Caregiver functioning, Level of support, Level of supervision, Trauma history, Cognitions/attributions regarding child’s abuse experiences, Substance abuse, Emotional functioning, Cognitive functioning, Future abuse/neglect potential, Parenting and social skills, Level of familial and community support. (Lipovsky & Hanson)

Parents

More Information

Read More

References

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity. (2016, March). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from National Institute of Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml

Christian, C. W. (2015, May 1). The evaluation of suspected child physical abuse. AAP News & Journals Gateway, 135(5). doi:10.1542/peds.2015-0356

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2013). Long-term consequences of child abuse and             neglect.  Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s       Bureau.

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2016). Definitions of child abuse and neglect. Washington,                        DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau.

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2013). What is child abuse and neglect? Recognizing the   signs and symptoms. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,      Children’s Bureau.

Garner, A. S., Shonkoff, J. P., Siegel, B. S., Dobbins, M. I., Earls, M. F., McGuinn, L., . . . Wood, D. L. (2012, January 1). Early childhood adversity, toxic stress, and the role of the pediatrician: translating development science into lifelong health. AAP News & Journals Gateway, 129. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2662

Health and behavior problems can linger after child abuse. (2017, March 21). Retrieved March 21, 2017, from Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2017/03/21/health-and-behavior-problems-can-linger-after-child-abuse.html

Jenny, C., & Crawford-Jakubiak, J. E. (2013, August 1). The evaluation of children in the primary care setting when sexual abuse is suspected. AAP News & Journals Gateway, 132(2). doi:10.1542/peds.2013-1741

Lipovsky, J. A., & Hanson, R. F. (n.d.). Treatment of child victims of abuse and neglect. National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center Medical University of South Carolina. Children's Law Center. Retrieved April 19, 2017, from http://childlaw.sc.edu/frmPublications/TreatmentforChildVictimsofAbuseandNeglect.pdf

PTSD: National Center for PTSD. (2016, October 4). Retrieved April 2017, from U.S Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/what-is-ptsd.asp

youtube video

abuse video

Altering Risk Following Child Maltreatment: Family and Friend Support as Protective Factors

Folger, S., & Wright, M. (2013). Altering Risk Following Child Maltreatment: Family and Friend Support as Protective Factors. Journal Of Family Violence, 28(4), 325-337. doi:10.1007/s10896-013-9510-4

In their article “Altering Risk Following Child Maltreatment: Family and Friend Support as Protective Factors” published in The Journal of Family Violence, Susan F. Folger and Margaret O’Dougherty Wright explains the benefits of family and friend support following child abuse and neglect.  This article supports the claim by describing research studies, in order to show how symptoms were reduced by support after suffering abuse or neglect.  This article was written for health care professionals in the field of child abuse, it uses scientific studies to show the benefits of support from friends and family.

I found this article on the library database, Academic Search Complete.  I used the key words long term effect and child abuse.  I chose this article because it seemed to provide different information on my topic.  The Journal of Family Violence is peer reviewed.  I believe it is credible because it requires a subscription, is peer reviewed and was on Academic Search Complete.  I do not know if I’m going to use this information in my paper, it just depends on the direction I go with my writing. 

The neurobiological effects of childhood maltreatment

Delima, J., & Vimpani, G. (2011). The neurobiological effects of childhood maltreatment: An often overlooked narrative related to the long-term effects of early childhood trauma? Family Matters, (89), 42-52.

In their article “The neurobiological effects of childhood maltreatment an often overlooked narrative related to the long-term effects of early childhood trauma?” published by Family Matters, Jennifer Delima and Graham Vimpani claims that societal dysfunction may be a consequence of childhood maltreatment.  This article supports its claim by describing studies they have researched and explaining them from a neurobiological perspective.  The purpose of this article is to show the effects of child abuse and to help with the responses towards it by giving knowledge about child abuse on an individual and social level.  This article was written for professionals that work with individuals effected by child abuse.

I found this article on the library database, Academic Search Complete.  I used the key words long term effects and child abuse. I limited my results to 2016 and 2017.  I chose this article because the title caught my attention and lead me to believe it would have information about the long-term effects of child abuse.  After researching Family Matters I learned that it is from the journal Australian Institute of Family Studies.  It is peer reviewed.  An article must pass specific requirements to be published in this journal so I would say it is credible. Some of this information will be useful to my research because it is about the long-term effects of child abuse.

Impact of stress in childhood: Psychobiological alterations

Banqueri, M., Méndez, M., & Arias, J. L. (2017). Impact of stress in childhood: Psychobiological alterations. Psicothema, 29(1), 18-22. doi:10.7334/psicothema2016.264

In their article “Impact of stress in childhood: Psychobiological alterations” published in Psicothema, María Banqueri, Marta Méndez and Jorge L. Arias question the effects of early life stress on humans.  This article supports this question by defining research in literature.  The purpose of this article is to point out the experimental results related to chronic early-life stress in both human and experimental models to show the impact of early-life stress.  This article was written for medical professionals interested in the effects of chronic stress on the human body.

I found this article on the library database, Academic Search Complete.  I used the key words long term effect and child abuse.  My search was limited to 226 articles because I filtered it to show only articles from 2016 and 2017.  I chose this article because the title, impact of stress.  One of my questions I want to answer is about the effects of stress.  I think this is a credible source because it was on the academic search complete.  I will use this information in my research because it has information pertaining to stress and child abuse and that is what my claim is about. 

Childhood Maltreatment Experiences and Child Abuse Potential: Temperamental Sensitivity as Moderator?

References

Voorthuis, A., Bhandari, R., Out, D., Veen, R., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M., & IJzendoorn, M. (2014). Childhood Maltreatment Experiences and Child Abuse Potential: Temperamental Sensitivity as Moderator?. Journal of Family Violence, 29(7), 749-756. doi:10.1007/s10896-014-9624-3

In their article “Childhood Maltreatment Experiences and Child Abuse Potential: Temperamental Sensitivity as Moderator?” published in the Journal of Family Violence, Alexandra Voorthuis, Ritu Bhandari, Dorothée Out, Rixt van der Veen, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, and Marinus H. Van IJzendoorn questions the relationship between abuse as a child and the risk for becoming an abuser after being abused.  This article supports its claim by describing the research study they did.  The purpose of this article is to suggest that children who are abused are likely to become an abuser themselves.  This article was written for medical professionals who are treating victims of child abuse.

I found this article on the library database, Academic Search Complete.  I used the key words long term affects and child abuse.  The search resulted in 226 articles.  I chose this one because it seemed to talk about a behavior effect of child abuse.  I know this is a credible source because it was on our library database.  Also, it is peer reviewed academic journal.  This article has some information in it that will be helpful to my claim.  It gives an example of one behavior issue a victim of child abuse or neglect could suffer from.   

Treating Adult Survivors of Childhood Emotional Abuse and Neglect

Grossman, F. K., Spinazzola, J., Zucker, M., & Hopper, E. (2017). Treating adult survivors of childhood emotional abuse and neglect: A new framework. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(1), 86-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ort0000225

In their article “Treating Adult Survivors of Childhood Emotional Abuse and Neglect: A New Framework”, which was published in The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Grossman, Spinazzola, Zucker, and Hopper suggest that victims of childhood emotional abuse and neglect exhibit equal or worse immediate and long-term effects than survivors of other forms of maltreatment and violence.  This article supports this claim by describing a research study, explaining the effects of emotional abuse and neglect, and offering new treatment methods that might be more useful in treating these victims when they are adults.  The purpose of this article is to inform the reader of the new treatment methods that could be more beneficial to these patients.  The article was written for medical professionals who treat adult patients who were victims of emotional abuse and neglect and uses research studies to back up their suggestion.

I found this article on Google Scholar.  I put in chronic stress and child abuse, I filtered the date to be 2017.  I had to go through 3 pages before I found this article because many of them covered only sexual abuse.  I investigated The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry and found that it is the principal publication of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice.  I know this is credible because it requires a subscription to the journal and only publishes scholars research.  I think some of the information could be helpful but I do not think the entire thing will be because it focuses on the therapy for adult survivors instead of just the effects of the abuse and neglects.