The Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory.

Traumatic experiences in childhood, as different forms of abuse, are known to produce severe consequences on mental health which can emerge both in infancy and in adult age. Identify potential abuse and risky contexts could decrease the risk of child’s death, health problems and later mental diseases. Even in situation of real abuse, attention to risk factors is needed in order to identify potential chronic maltreatment and stop a circle of violence. The Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory is a widely used assessment tool that enable to identify physical abuse and at-risk situations. Considerations about its characteristics allow the promotion of its use as an important help for programs of secondary prevention, aimed to prevent the actuation of a risk situation and of tertiary prevention, in order to stop physical abuse situations and avoid a possibility of chronicity and revictimization. A mini review of the literature is proposed, focusing on the construct validity and the concurrent predictive validity of the CAP Inventory with the intent to underline its potentialities and evidences across the time and suggest furthers investigations.