All ACE domains & indicators

View definitions of domains and indicators. Explore the master taxonomy and access comprehensive code list downloads for your research.

1 Master indicator list

View list
ACE Domain Indicator Code Indicator Name
CMCM00Child maltreatment (CM)
CMCM1Child protection/safeguarding
CMCM2CM NOS, incl. physical or sexual abuse (merged)
CMCM3Neglect (incl. NAS/FASD) and emotional/psychological abuse
CMCM4Social service involved (incl. parental imprisonment/criminal activity)
CMCM5Child in care
CMCM6Suspected CM NOS (incl. neglect and social service involvements)
CMCM7Child assaulted NOS (incl. physical/sexual abuse ≤10, rib fractures ≤3†)
IPVIPV00Intimate partner violence (IPV)
IPVIPV1IPV, NOS (incl. physical/sexual abuse)
IPVIPV2Mother assaulted + child protection recording or pregnant incident†
IPVIPV3Suspected IPV NOS
IPVIPV4Suspected IPV, physical or sexual abuse
IPVIPV5Mother assaulted NOS (hospital admission only)
IPVIPV6Mother assaulted + high-risk presentations (algorithm)†
HRP-CMHRPCM00High-risk presentations of CM (HRP-CM)
HRP-CMHRPCM1Bruising & contusions ≤3†
HRP-CMHRPCM2Superficial injuries of head, neck or multiple body parts ≤3†
HRP-CMHRPCM3Thermal injuries - head, face or neck ≤3†
HRP-CMHRPCM4Thermal injuries - trunk, back or trachea ≤3†
HRP-CMHRPCM5Skull fractures or intracranial crush injury ≤3†
HRP-CMHRPCM6Child harm by undetermined intent - rare injuries & life-threatening events (retinal haemorrhages, drownings, SUDI, firearm etc.) ≤10†
HRP-CMHRPCM7Child harm by undetermined intent - exposure to unspecified factor≤10†
HRP-CMHRPCM8Failure to thrive (excessive thirst, suspected malnutrition) ≤10†
HRP-CMHRPCM9Non-attendance of child appointment (≥3 appts. within 2-years) ≤10†
SMSM00Parental substance misuse (SM)
SMSM1Drug misuse, severe (dependence levels)
SMSM2Drug misuse, moderate (all other)
SMSM3Drug prescription for opioid dependence, multipurpose usage
SMSM4Family substance misuse (i.e. unspecified family member)
SMSM5Alcohol misuse, severe (incl. self-report measures/≥35 alcohol units per week103)†
AFEAFE00Adverse family environments (AFE)
AFEAFE1High-risk antenatal presentation, social-risk specific
AFEAFE2High-risk antenatal presentation, psychosocial NOS
AFEAFE3Unwanted/concealed pregnancy incl. attempted abortion of the current child
AFEAFE4Psychosocial health problem with lower-level intervention
AFEAFE5Health visitor increasing concern
AFEAFE6Family disruptions and parental conflicts NOS
AFEAFE7Parental separations
AFEAFE8Parent with legal problems
AFEAFE9Family is cause for concern (incl. maternal FGM, current rec. historic event)
AFEAFE10Problems related to negative childhood events
AFEAFE11Mother assaulted NOS (GP record only)
AFEAFE12Housing problems, effects of deprivation and refugee (excl. homelessness)
AFEAFE13Homelessness (child/mother)
AFEAFE14Vulnerable family NOS (incl. CPA)
AFEAFE15Family/parental support referral
AFEAFE16Problems related to psychosocial circumstances
AFEAFE17Learning or intellectual disability
AFEAFE18Increased concerns of parental capacity
AFEAFE19Parental problems with daily living/limited capacity to work (incl. financial concerns)
MHPsMHP00Parental mental health problems (MHPs)
MHPsMHPCommon mental health problems
MHPsMHP1Depression incl. antidepressants†
MHPsMHP2Self-harm or suicide attempts
MHPsMHP3Anxiety disorder NOS incl. anxiolytics†
MHPsMHP4Panic disorder (incl. agoraphobia, health anxiety)
MHPsMHP5Obsessive-compulsive disorders
MHPsMHP6PTSD incl. acute stress disorder
MHPsMHP7Sleep-wake disorders
MHPsMHP8Mental health problems NOS
MHPsMHP9Referred/seen by a mental health professional (≥tier 3 profession)
MHPsMHP10Puerperal mental health problem NOS
MHPsMHP11Anorexia nervosa
MHPsMHP12Eating disorders NOS (incl. Bulimia)
MHPsMHP13Psychosis incl. mental health sections NOS
MHPsMHP14Antipsychotics (1st-2nd gen & NOS)
MHPsMHP15Bipolar disorders
MHPsMHP16Personality disorders (e.g. BPD)
MHPsMHP17Neurodevelopmental conditions and conduct disorders

2 Important notices

Think-family approach: Unless specified, indicators refer to information recorded in the child, mother and father.
Implementation rules required: The indicators use control flow methods to implement rule-based algorithms. These must be applied to specific indicators (mainly HRP-CM) to prevent misclassification including age-restrictions, exclusions of accidental injuries, genetic predispositions (bone diseases), traumatic birth injuries or maternal-child transmissions during birth.

3 All ACEs code lists

Control documentation v3

Right-click on a link to save as a ".txt" file (i.e. using option "save link as"). Total included ACE codes: 23,164

4 Domain code lists

5 Exclusion rules code lists

6 Child & adolescent outcomes

This section provides the clinical code list to identify mental health problems and substance misuse indicators specifically structured as outcomes in children and adolescents (up to 18 years).

Users must cite the publication "The Lancet Public Health (2025)" when utilising this CYP Mental Health Problems code list in any work and research outputs.
NIHR CPRU UCL ICH Oxford NIHR GOSH BRC GOSH Bristol HDRUK Caliber UCL