MEETING ABSTRACT Open Access Child abuse and neglect: psychiatric and neuro-biological consequences

Child abuse and neglect is a common problem that is potentially damaging to long-term physical and psycho-logical health of children. Over the past, researchers have documented this relationship and have identified two possible mechanisms that can explain the increased incidence of childhood stress and consequent adult somatic disease: the increased incidence of health harm-ing behaviors and causes epigenetic and other changes that predispose individuals to disease through a raised non-specific inflammatory profile [1]. Abuse survivors, as well as persons who have experienced other types of childhood adversities, are more likely to participate in high-risk behaviors [2]. Possible etiologic factors in sur-vivors ’ health problems include abuse-related alterations in brain functioning that can increase vulnerability t