Although several specific symptom patterns have been identified retrospectively in adults who were victimized as children, less information is available on the acute psychiatric status of sexually abused children. Post-traumatic stress disorder is another increasingly visible diagnostic category being applied to children. Core features of pathological dissociation in abused children identified in this article include the development of symptoms, initial presentation and symptom checklist, and imaginary companions and role play. Two case studies described here are used to illustrate dissociative symptomatology in abused children. While the children did improve somewhat from individual, group, and family therapy that was not specifically directed toward dissociative phenomena, the author contends that a more focused approach might have ameliorated their symptoms more rapidly and completely. 69 references