EpiCHILD assessment tool: identifying exposure to witnessed violence in children and adolescents

Introduction. Witnessed domestic violence is a widespread yet underrecognized form of childhood trauma, with serious consequences for the emotional, behavioral, and physical development of children and adolescents. In Italy, nearly half of domestic violence incidents occur in the presence of children, yet standardized tools for identifying affected minors remain scarce.
Objectives. This study presents the EpiCHILD assessment tool, designed to support the early identification of psychophysical vulnerabilities in children exposed to domestic
violence and to guide targeted prevention and care strategies.
Methods. Developed within the ESMiVA study, EpiCHILD is a multidimensional electronic questionnaire composed of nine sections, incorporating validated instruments for
PTSD (ITQ-CA), depression (CDI-2), and psychosocial functioning (SDQ-Ita). Administered by trained professionals in clinical and social service settings, the tool is GDPRcompliant and allows for flexible, child-centered use.
Conclusions. EpiCHILD enables systematic screening and early detection of children at risk due to violence exposure. It standardizes data collection across sectors and lays
the groundwork for future research on the biological impact of trauma, including potential epigenetic markers, representing an innovative contribution to precision prevention