Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment in the United States. Despite the fact that neglect is much more prevalent than physical abuse, it has received less attention from child care professionals, child psychiatrists and psychologists, researchers, and social agencies. Neglectful practices include inadequate parenting, interruption of maternal care, affective and social deprivation, inappropriate or premature expectations of the child, parental detachment, indifference, overstimulation, and failure to anticipate or respond to the child's needs at specific developmental stages. Many neglecting parents are psychotic, alcoholic, or antisocial. Most have a previous history of deprivation and neglect during their own childhood, and they tend to repeat these patterns of deprivation in their own families. Neglected children exhibit physical and developmental retardation and cognitive impairment, especially in the areas of speech and language. They are also impaired in their ability to form human attachments. Intervention with neglecting families should be based on a careful assessment of environmental stressors, individual psychopathology, and deficiencies in the family system. While the general thrust of intervention should be aimed at preserving and strengthening the family unit, temporary or permanent placement of children may be necessary in some cases. 21 references