Citation

Bor W, Stallman H, Collerson E, Boyle C, Swenson CC, McDermott B, Lee E. Australas. Psychiatry 2013; 21(4): 389-392.

Affiliation

Director of Mater Centre for Service Research in Mental Health, and Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1039856213492350

PMID

23804119

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Our aim is to critique Australian child maltreatment policy, outline abuse trends and provide data on family risk factors. METHOD: We identified policy gaps and reviewed family profiles within selective child maltreatment databases. Data sources included international and Australian literature, Queensland Department of Child Safety reports and a research clinical database. RESULTS: Data reviewed suggest that a pattern of co-occurring complex multiple system family problems characterize substantiated abuse cases. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of multiple family problems suggests the need for a new treatment paradigm. Multisystemic Therapy for child physical abuse and neglect is an evidence-based intervention that matches the therapeutic needs of such families.

Language: en