Family violence has been linked with such diverse phenomena as physical trauma, depression, anxiety disorders, conduct problems in children, sexual dysfunction, and multiple personality disorders. Relatively common conditions associated with family violence include substance abuse, poverty, unemployment, and stress. Physicians, nurses, and emergency medical personnel are the first line to identify and treat family violence. Legal and criminal justice professionals are also involved with family violence at several levels. Child protective service agencies exist in every State to investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect. These organizations provide emergency shelter to maltreated children, offer remedial programs for families engaged in abuse and neglect, and arrange for foster placement and adoption. An additional legal issue is the duty-to-warn requirement. Specifically, recent court decisions stipulate that clinicians notify potential victims of harmful threats made by clients. Family violence is best understood within the context of family and social issues. Pervasive dysfunction exists in many families plagued by family violence. Coercive family processes, marital distress, and maladaptive parent-child interaction have repeatedly been documented in child abuse and neglect, child sexual abuse, and wife battering. The purposes of psychopathological assessment are to screen for severe forms of psychological disorders and to identify targets for treatment. The primary goal of treatment is to stop and prevent future maltreatment; the secondary goal is to remediate individual and family dysfunction. 28 references