Social work perspective on psychosocial dwarfism

This paper describes the family pathology affecting five children with growth retardation. Psychosocial dwarfism was suspected in all of them. Emotional trauma from the social environment is believed to have contributed to the children's retarded growth pattern. Striking similarity in the pattern of disturbance in parent-child interaction with child abuse and maltreatment cases is shown. The social worker's responsibility and the difficulties encountered in both assessment and treatment of these families is highlighted. Guidelines are delineated for social work practitioners in approaching these families. Implications of the findings are examined and directions for future studies identified.