Page 69 - Aug Sept 2016

Elite Investigative Journal
A Case for Specialized and Specific Intervention and Treatment Strategies with Abused Children, pg 69-80
©2014-2016 SYT Global, Inc.
A Case for Specialized and Specific Intervention and

Treatment Strategies with Abused Young Children

by William Krill

Photo Courtesy of google.com
A review of the literature reveals that 2002). In the case of People v Stritzinger
the area of forensic questioning of (1983), the Supreme Court ruled
young children in relation to child that unavailability due to a “mental

abuse is fraught with differing opinions infirmity” must be determined either by
and controversy. The clear need for the witness refusing to testify, or on the

courts to have accurate information recommendation of an expert witness.
concerning perpetration of abuse While the expert may recommend the
on children by adults will continue child not testify due to PTSD, the expert

to exist as long as child abuse does. would be on shaky grounds to state that
In the guidelines for the evaluation the PTSD is proof of the abuse. While

of allegedly abused children, the Fisher and Whiting (2001) agree that
American Psychological Association some aspects of PTSD symptoms are
Committee on Professional Practice and consistent with a child’s behavioral

Standards (1998) indicates that forensic reactions to abuse, an unreliable pattern
data and expert witnessing may help of abused children with PTSD make using

the court in understanding, gaining the diagnosis as a proof a very flawed
perspective, and increasing the fairness reasoning. They do add though, that if
of determinations. Professionals abuse has been founded, the diagnosis

in psychological treatment may be becomes a framework to determine level
asked to determine if abuse has been of impact on the child and as a treatment

perpetrated, and may use the diagnosis springboard. This would also then seem to
of Post-Traumatic Stress as a proof that be recursive, with the diagnosis of PTSD
it has. (Regan, Johnson, Alderson, following a founded case to suggest

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