Altered brain development following global neglect

Each year in the United States alone, over 500,000 children suffer from some version of "neglect." Neglected children brought to the attention of the Child Protective Services has a much higher probability of emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social and physical delays and dysfunction than "comparison" children. It is becoming increasingly clear that the nature, timing and extent of neglect in childhood are critical in determining the nature and extent of these deficits (Perry et al., 199 5; Courchesne et al., 1994).