Editorial: Exploring child abuse from clinical, legal, and forensic perspectives - Summary - MDSpire
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Editorial: Investigating Child Abuse Through Clinical, Legal, and Forensic Lenses

  • By

  • Donato Morena

  • Emanuela Turillazzi

  • Vittorio Fineschi

  • August 18, 2026

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Objective:

To examine child abuse through various professional lenses, highlighting the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches in its recognition and management.

Approach:
  • Clinical Identification: Effective clinical identification of abuse requires interpreting non-accidental injuries and assessing psychological ramifications.
  • Educational Interventions: Research highlights the importance of structured training for healthcare professionals to improve diagnostic awareness of child abuse.
  • Research Analysis: A bibliometric analysis reveals a shift in child abuse research towards a broader public health and social welfare framework.
  • Parental Alienation: Research on parental alienating behaviors indicates significant psychological consequences, necessitating careful evaluation in family dynamics.
  • Forensic Challenges: A narrative review discusses the limitations of classical diagnostic criteria for pediatric abusive head trauma and proposes a standardized forensic workflow.
Key Findings:
  • Educational interventions can enhance physicians' diagnostic awareness regarding child abuse.
  • Ongoing education in child abuse for healthcare professionals is necessary.
  • Research on child abuse is shifting towards a comprehensive framework that includes public health and social welfare.
  • Parental alienating behaviors are associated with negative psychological outcomes in young adults.
  • Standardized forensic procedures may improve diagnostic reproducibility and evidentiary integrity.
Interpretation:

The editorial emphasizes the integration of clinical, legal, and forensic approaches to address child abuse effectively.

Limitations:
  • The sustainability of behavioral changes from educational interventions was not evaluated.
  • Research findings may not be universally applicable due to geographic and institutional concentration.
Conclusion:

A multidisciplinary approach is essential for effective child protection, requiring collaboration across various professional domains.

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