Memory Processess in Abused and Neglected Children

描述（由申请人提供）：发展精神病理学领域的特点是关注正常和非典型发展之间的双向关系，因此，它可以为正常人群的研究转化为理解非典型和紊乱人群提供一个框架。因此，发展精神病理学的观点为将记忆研究转化为创伤领域提供了强大的推动力，特别是增强了我们对儿童虐待对记忆过程可能产生的影响的理解。在这个转化研究应用中，我们计划确定儿童虐待的经历是否会影响受虐待儿童的记忆运作。为了实现这一目标，我们从儿童记忆的规范文献中提取，并系统地将这些知识应用于与虐待和记忆相关的问题。1440名5至10岁的儿童将参加一系列六项研究，涉及基本记忆过程，信息抑制，暗示和错误记忆。将有720名儿童因与虐待儿童有关的问题向当地人类和卫生服务部报告，360名未受虐待的儿童将在性别、社会经济地位、种族和家庭构成方面与受虐待儿童在人口统计学上具有可比性。受虐待的儿童将平均分为有忽视史的儿童（称为遗漏组）和有身体和/或性虐待史的儿童（称为委员会组）。第二组的360名中等社会经济地位的儿童将被招募，以便与基本记忆文献进行比较。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The field of developmental psychopathology has been characterized by a focus on the bi-directional relations between normal and atypical development, and, as such, lends itself to providing a framework for the translation of research on normal populations toward understanding atypical and disordered populations. As such, a developmental psychopathology perspective serves as a powerful impetus for translating work on memory into the arena of trauma, specifically, into enhancing our understanding of the possible effects of child maltreatment on processes of memory. In this translational research application, we plan to ascertain whether experiences of child maltreatment affect the operation of memory in maltreated children. Toward this goal, we draw from the normative literature on memory in children and systematically apply this knowledge to issues relevant to maltreatment and memory. 1,440 children between 5 and 10 years of age will participate in a series of six studies addressing basic memory processes, information suppression, suggestibility, and false memories. 720 children will have been reported to the local Department of Human and Health Services (DHHS) for concerns related to child maltreatment and 360 non-maltreated children will be demographically comparable to the maltreated children with respect to gender, socio-economic status, racelethnicity, and household composition. Maltreated children will be equally divided among those with histories of Neglect (referred to as the Omission Group) and those with histories of Physical and/or Sexual Abuse (referred to as the Commission Group). A second comparison group of 360 middle socio-economic status children will be recruited to allow for comparisons with the basic memory literature. The research plan is guided by the following specific aims: 1) to ascertain whether basic memory processes operate the same or differently in children with histories of maltreatment; 2) to determine whether maltreated children are more or less prone to information suppression than are children without histories of maltreatment; 3) to assess whether maltreated children are more or less susceptible to suggestibility and to false memories than are non-maltreated children; 4) to examine whether higher levels of psychopathology interfere with maltreated children's memory processes and increase their susceptibility to suggestion and false memories; 5) to translate the findings of these investigations to the social policy arena. The overarching goal of this program of research will be to export these findings into the social policy arena, as well as to inform the provision of interventions of maltreated populations. Thus, the application possesses significant implications for society regarding planning for the needs of children who have been physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected.