title: Adequate evaluation of divorce-related child sexual abuse allegations.
abstract: The accepted child protective service model for evaluation of sexual abuse is inadequate for divorce-related cases involving young children. Three cases illustrate that lack of contact with the alleged offender and lack of pursuit of alternative explanations for phenomena presented as indicative of sexual abuse predispose to "finding" abuse. It is suggested that such agencies engage experienced child and family clinicians to help with these cases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Derdeyn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poehailos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seigle
mesh_terms: D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D002655:Child Custody / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004243:Divorce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations