Child abuse is a pervasive societal problem, with nearly 1 million substantiated reports of child maltreatment each year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001), many reported cases of actual abuse that are not verified (Kaufman & Zigler, 1996), and countless other cases that are never brought to the attention of authorities (Wolfner & Gelles, 1993). Extant research has identified a host of negative sequelae associated with child maltreatment, including deficits in interpersonal relationships, affect regulation, and self-development (Beeghly & Cicchetti, 1994; Crittenden, 1992; Egeland & Sroufe, 1981; Maughan & Cicchetti, 2002), as well as increased rates of multiple psychiatric diagnoses (Cicchetti & Carlson, 1989; Cicchetti & Toth, 1995; Ammerman, Cassisi, Hersen, & Van Hasselt, 1986; Egeland, Sroufe, & Erickson, 1983). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]