Author Description

Containing chapters from professionals in such diverse fields as pediatrics, psychiatry, legal studies, and social work, The Battered Child, fifth edition, reflects the past decade's extraordinary advances in research and techniques in the assessment, treatment, and prevention of child abuse. Twenty of the book's thirty chapters are entirely new, while the remaining material has been extensively revised. The current edition is 40 percent larger than its predecessor. Part 1 provides a historical overview of child abuse and neglect as well as background material on the cultural, psychiatric, social, economic, and legal contexts of child maltreatment. Part 2 discusses the processes of assessing cases of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and neglect from the unique perspectives of all the professionals involved, including teachers, pediatricians, psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers. Part 3 describes intervention and treatment, focusing on legal issues, investigative procedures, and therapeutic processes, while Part 4 addresses prevention and policy issues.