The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 defines child abuse as the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under 18 years of age by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare. Specific legal definitions of what constitutes child abuse differ from State to State. Further, children who suffer emotional abuse are subjected to mental and emotional torment that is somewhat difficult to describe and define. Emotional abuse, in some ways, is analogous to prejudice and has insidious consequences. The National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse estimates that approximately 1 million children in the United States are abused yearly by parents, guardians, or someone responsible for their care. Behavioral and psychological signs of abuse and neglect include passivity, aggressiveness, regressiveness, and interpersonal relationship deficits. The problem of sexual abuse of children is of unknown national dimensions. The question of cause and effect in the abuse and neglect of handicapped children is examined, as well as characteristics of people who abuse children. Emergent problems related to child abuse are noted, including reporting procedures and false accusations. Appendixes contain checklists and documentation forms to use when collecting basic child abuse information. 170 references.