[Mental development of children in condition of chronic physical abuse: methodical aspect].

Mental dysfunction of 130 children aged 0-14 years with a history of family physical abuse was studied using a number of known methods adapted for early aged children including an original scale of mental dysfunction assessment, which has been elaborated in Mental Health Research Center (Moscow). A battery of clinico-psychopathological and clinico-psychological methods allowed comprehensive assessment of mental state, with 95% cases of mental dysfunction being found in the group studied. The most pronounced were depression spectrum disorders.