Childhood Adversity and Mental Health: From Maltreatment Experiences to Psychopathological Outcomes and Psychotherapy
A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Mental Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 July 2026 | Viewed by 701
Special Issue Editors
Interests: early relational trauma, perinatal mental health, and the psychopathological outcomes of adverse childhood experiences; perinatal psychology; attachment and mentalization; adverse childhood experiences (aces); public health and community interventions
Interests: psychopathology, psycho-criminology and victimology; developmental and psychopathological consequences of childhood maltreatment and abuse; adverse childhood experiences (aces); trauma; evidence based practice
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Childhood adversity—including abuse, neglect, and disrupted caregiving—has long been recognized as a major risk factor for the development of psychological distress and mental disorders across the lifespan. Advances in developmental psychopathology, attachment theory, and neurobiology have deepened our understanding of how early trauma shapes vulnerability and resilience.
This Special Issue aims to explore the complex pathways linking childhood maltreatment to psychopathological outcomes and highlight innovative approaches in prevention, assessment, and psychotherapy. We welcome contributions from clinical, developmental, and interdisciplinary perspectives that offer novel insights into mechanisms of risk and change.
We are particularly interested in cutting-edge empirical studies, longitudinal research, and studies integrating clinical practice with advanced methodologies (e.g., neuroimaging, machine learning, qualitative analysis). The Special Issue also encourages submissions focusing on therapeutic interventions tailored to trauma-affected populations, as well as reviews and meta-analyses that synthesize current knowledge and identify future directions.
Dr. Maria Rita Infurna
Dr. Cinzia Guarnaccia
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- childhood maltreatment
- developmental psychopathology
- trauma-related psychopathology
- trauma-informed psychotherapy
- attachment and mentalization
- adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- resilience and risk factors
- early intervention and prevention
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