The present authors conducted a study of the occurrence of victimization and the perpetration of sexual abuse among 43 in-patients with intellectual disability aged between 9 and 21 years who were admitted to a child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient department over a period of 5 years. A retrospective case-note review was employed that explored the nature and severity of abuse in relation to the age, gender and level of disability. The prevalence of abuse or abusive behaviour, i.e. 14% of 300 admissions, did not change over time. In 13 out of the 43 cases, the issue of sexual abuse was identified after admission. Victimization alone occurred in 21 cases, perpetration alone in six cases, and both victimization and perpetration in 16 cases. Fifty per cent of the victims had been abused by a member of their close or extended family. Most cases (62%) were adolescents. There was only one instance of a victim being abused by a female. However, there were five girls who were perpetrators, all of whom had previously been victims. By contrast, 11 out of the 17 male perpetrators had been victims. Despite difficulties of disclosure, it was possible to establish that severely disabled patients had suffered sexual abuse. The present data support theories which (1) recognize gender differences in sexual abuse patterns and (2) have a developmental perspective, incorporating the influence of adolescence.

The present study addressed two issues using a sample of child and adolescent victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse: (1) the extent of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the sample; and (2) the possible distinction between perpetrators whose motivations were sexually impulsive, and those who were controlling and abuse-reactive. Retrospective case material from 43 cases (21 victims only, and 22 perpetrators, of whom 16 were also victims) provided the data. Post-traumatic symptomatology was not common. Only one case of PTSD was found. Perpetrators could be distinguished by whether they had suffered sexual abuse alone, sexual and physical abuse, or neither. The proposed distinction between perpetrators received support. Sexual abuse directed at younger victims was associated with earlier experience of multiple forms of abuse. The present data does not support the view that post-traumatic symptoms following victimization are a mediator of sexual abuse perpetration. It is argued that an elaboration of the Williams & New developmental model of perpetration better fits the data.

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