Child torture: A Washington state case series

Child torture is a worldwide problem, but there is very little research on torture as a form of child abuse. In 2014 Knox et al. reported the first case series on child torture and developed criteria to diagnose child abuse torture. Our objective was to describe additional child abuse torture victims and to determine whether they shared similar patterns, including types of abuse, duration and possible opportunities for early identification. This multi-site case series reviewed 47 children identified as torture victims at three Washington State child abuse programs spanning 15 years. Data was collected through retrospective chart review. Simple descriptive statistics were utilised. Our study found that abuse occurred over months to years. All children experienced psychological maltreatment, 89 per cent had findings of physical abuse. Malnutrition and medical, emotional and educational neglect were common. Majority of torture victims had previously been involved with CPS or had seen a medical provider prior to diagnosis, at which time they had findings of torture, but received no protective intervention. It's important to develop criteria for recognition and early intervention since tortured children experienced sustained, systematic and escalating abuse.