ABSTRACT
There has been increasing concern over the assessment of children for possible sexual abuse. This concern has been especially great in the case of certain children. This chapter discusses the nature of “difficult cases” that present for an assessment of possible sexual abuse, reviews selected research on key aspects of the assessment of these cases (e.g., the difference between “true” vs. “false” cases and children as witnesses), and identifies some of the real world issues and experiences that make assessment of some cases more difficult than others. Suggestions are made for research and practice in this area.
