title: [Family violence and mental health in adolescence: complex trauma  as a developmental disorder].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To highlight the harmfulness and pervasive of early and repeated exposure to family violence from the theoretical perspective of complex trauma as a developmental disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study carried out on a sample of 22 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18, who have been entrusted to Il Faro Bologna, a Specialist Centre for child abuse and neglect. Specific areas of psychological functioning were examined. According to the NCTSN these areas are considered vulnerable to violence in primary relationships and crucial for future mental health. They are attachment, self-concept, affect regulation, cognition and behavioural control. The data was correlated with the different forms of maltreatment and the main risk factors detected in the family environment and was collected by means of clinical interviews, family and social histories, structured interviews and self-reports recommended by the NASMHPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data highlights a correlation between the psychic functions examined and exposure to family violence, distortion of parental empathy and parental responsibility failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates the need: a) to raise clinical awareness of the consequences of complex trauma on development; b) to adopt specific diagnostic tools for evaluating post-traumatic outcomes; c) to carry out regular screening in order to explore histories of maltreatment in patients cared for by mental health services.
authors.affiliation: Centro Specialistico Provinciale Contro i Maltrattamenti all'Infanzia, Faro.
authors.forename: Cosimo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricciutello
authors.forename: Mariagnese
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheli
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campieri
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pincanelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002649:Child Abuse; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors