SINCE THE FREQUENCY OF DIAGNOSIS OF CHILD ABUSE IS INCREASING, DIAGNOSIS HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF AND THE FIRST STEP IN PSYCHOTHERAPY. TH IMPORTANCE OF DIAGNOSIS IS EXAMINED AS WELL AS THE EQUALLY IMPORTANT FAMILY PROGNOSIS. FOLLOWING DIAGNOSIS OF ANY OTHER DISEASES IN THE ABUSED CHILD, THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE PARENTS, FAMILY, AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS POINTS TO THERAPY. IN THE ABSENCE OF THERAPY, A 'CYCLE OF DEPRIVATION' IS PERPETUATED IN THOSE FAMILIES WHERE ABUSE EXTENDS DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATIONS. THE PAPER DESCRIBES THE FAMILY CRISIS REGARDING ADMISSION TO THERAPY. THE THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS ORGANIZED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING WHAT IS LACKING IN THE FAMILY, IS FULLY DISCUSSED. THE SYNDROME AND TREATMENT OF FROZEN WATCHFULNESS,' A CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOR ADAPTED AS A RESULT OF UNPREDICTABLE PARENTAL CONDUCT, ARE EXPLAINED. THE PAPER ALSO DEALS WITH DIFFERENTIATION OF THE OPEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIP FROM A CLOSED SYSTEM OF FANTASIZING, WHICH OFTEN DEVELOPS AROUND A CYCLE OF ABUSE. THE THERAPEUTIC NATURE OF COURT HEARINGS, THE CONCEPT OF THE LIBERATING BOND, AND THE PRESCRIBED SYSTEM OF PREVENTIVE TREATMENT ARE EXPLAINED. PREVENTIVE TREATMENT'S GOAL IS THE EARLY ASCERTAINMENT OF FAMILIES AT RISK OF INFLICTING HARM DURING THE PRENATAL PERIOD. TENTATIVENESS AND FLEXIBILITY OF THEORY AND PRACTICE IN LIGHT OF THE QUICKLY ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SYNDROME ARE ENCOURAGED. THE CONCLUSION SUGGESTS THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATING ASSESSMENT, SHORT-TERM MANAGEMENT, AND LONG-TERM TREATMENT OF BATTERING PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. IT SUGGESTS THE INCLUSION OF A PSYCHOSOCIAL HISTORY WHEN PREGNANT WOMEN ENTER PRENATAL CLINICS AND OFFERS THE IDEA OF SPECIALLY TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS WORKING IN LIAISON WITH MATERNITY DEPARTMENTS. SUCH FULL DIAGNOSIS AND RECOGNITION OF SERIOUS FAMILY PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IS BASIC TO SUCCESS IN BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP TREATMENT. (RBS)