The overview examines child sexual abuse in the context of normal psychosexual development and in historical perspective. The overview includes a comprehensive survey of the current literature on child sexual abuse, emphasizing the available knowledge on psychodynamics and the trauma resulting from abuse. The section on evaluation describes the process of both the psychiatric and medical evaluations of the child victim and the complex problems attending false allegations of sexual abuse. Special issues covered are sibling incest, male victims of sexual abuse, the institutional abuse of children, and the evaluation and treatment of the male sex offender. The section on legal issues addresses the implications of child pornography and child prostitution, the child witness, and the clinician's role as an expert witness in court. The section on treatment and prevention covers the issues involved in treating the sexually abused child and offers clinical advice on prevention. Appended is a list of education materials (books, pamphlets, videos, and types of anatomically correct dolls) that may be used in prevention, training, and treatment programs. Chapter references, name index, subject index. For individual chapters, see NCJ-113436-40. (Publisher summary modified)