Book excerpt: Institutional Abuse brings together a number of different research studies and accounts of institutional abuse from leading academics and researchers. Public enquiries and court cases concerning institutional abuse in a range of settings have generated considerable media interest and have highlighted the need for preventative strategies and appropriate responses. Four areas of abuse are covered: *the abuse of children *the abuse of adults with mental health problems *the abuse of adults with learning difficulties *the abuse of older people. Each section includes a chapter which reports on users' experiences of abuse and their views as to how institutional abuse can be prevented and survivors' needs met.