title: Assessing historical abuse allegations and damages.
abstract: Practitioners may be called upon to assess adults who have alleged child abuse as a minor and are seeking reparations. Such assessments may be used by the courts to determine harm and assess damages related to their claim or testimony. Our clinical/research team has conducted many such evaluations and reported the findings pertaining to the psychological harm stemming from historical abuse in published studies. We use the opportunity provided by this new section on Practical Strategies to describe the role of the assessor, and to provide details concerning our methods for preparing these assessments and reporting the findings for the purpose of civil or criminal actions. Specific recommendations for wording of written reports are provided.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Jaffe
authors.forename: Alan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Leschied
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Legate
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009769:Object Attachment; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D035502:Trust