The psychological and physiological sequel of child maltreatment: A forensic perspective

Background

It has long been recognized that sustained or repeated child maltreatment has lasting psychological and emotional effects on the victims. This has helped to inform the criminal and civil justice systems how best to deal with perpetrators of abuse, as well social and health services when treating the victims. However, what is generally less well recognized is that physical and emotional abuse has a lasting and potentially non-reversible effect on brain function.

Methods

We conducted a literature review on the forensic, mental, psychological, and pathophysiological impact of child maltreatment and discuss the implications of child maltreatment as a potential mitigating factor in criminal court in cases where victims of abuse become perpetrators themselves.

Findings

Repeated exposure to traumatic experiences changes the responsiveness in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis with lasting consequences in the developing brain for structures, such as the hippocampus and amygdala. These physiological changes are thought to cause a range of mental disorders, which are associated with poor affect regulation, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.

Conclusions

The importance of developing our understanding of the long-term effects of child abuse and neglect cannot be overestimated as the result of child maltreatment will perpetrate criminal acts since offenders have higher rates of mental illness than the general community.