Comparing mental health disorders among sex trafficked children and three groups of youth at high-risk for trafficking: A dual retrospective cohort and scoping review

Primary Care Clinician’s Knowledge of Trafficking in Persons: A Systematic Review

“…Similar to Iglesias-Rios et al (2018), Palines et al (2020) assessed the prevalence of mental health disorders among 143 TIPs who were below the age of 18 and had been medically evaluated at a Health Maintenance Organization that provides mental health services. Palines et al (2020) found that 52.4% of participants were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 26.6% were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 19.6% were diagnosed with PTSD, 45.5% were diagnosed with depression, 19.6% were diagnosed with anxiety, 19.6% were diagnosed with conduct disorder, and 14% were diagnosed with psychosis. Based on these findings, Palines et al (2020) suggested that health care professionals be trained on HT to support safe and appropriate responses and an approach that takes both social and psychological factors into account when responding to the mental needs of TIPs.…”

“…Physical and Psychological Consequences of HT. Three studies addressed the physical and psychological consequences of HT (Iglesias-Rios et al, 2018;Oram et al, 2016;Palines et al, 2020). Oram et al (2016) investigated the physical and mental health of 150 TIPs and found that symptoms related to physical and sexual abuse were a commonly reported indicator.…”

“…As a result of these assessments, Iglesias-Rios et al ( 2018 2020) assessed the prevalence of mental health disorders among 143 TIPs who were below the age of 18 and had been medically evaluated at a Health Maintenance Organization that provides mental health services. Palines et al (2020) found that 52.4% of participants were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 26.6% were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 19.6% were diagnosed with PTSD, 45.5% were diagnosed with depression, 19.6% were diagnosed with anxiety, 19.6% were diagnosed with conduct disorder, and 14% were diagnosed with psychosis. Based on these findings, Palines et al (2020) suggested that health care professionals be trained on HT to support safe and appropriate responses and an approach that takes both social and psychological factors into account when responding to the mental needs of TIPs.…”

“…Palines et al (2020) found that 52.4% of participants were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 26.6% were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 19.6% were diagnosed with PTSD, 45.5% were diagnosed with depression, 19.6% were diagnosed with anxiety, 19.6% were diagnosed with conduct disorder, and 14% were diagnosed with psychosis. Based on these findings, Palines et al (2020) suggested that health care professionals be trained on HT to support safe and appropriate responses and an approach that takes both social and psychological factors into account when responding to the mental needs of TIPs. Even though HT is associated with a variety of medical conditions, it is important for clinicians to not assume that every patient with a mental, physical, or sexual problem is trafficked.…”

In Their Own Words: The Impact of Indirect Trauma Exposure on Judges Presiding Over Cases Involving Minors Involved in Sex Trafficking

“…However, the experience of being sexually exploited may be a distinctive experience in addition to these other traumatic events in the child's life. When comparing children who have experienced sex trafficking to other "high risk" children (e.g., those in foster care, runaways, and those with juvenile convictions), children who experienced sex trafficking have significantly higher levels of mental health disorder symptomology in multiple domains, are less likely to be in school, and are more likely to experience kidnapping and multiple forms of abuse by a non-family member (Cole, Sprang, Lee & Cohen, 2016;Kenny et al, 2020;Palines et al 2020). Therefore, working with these children may present unique challenges for professionals in the community trying to protect and support them and making decisions that will likely impact their lives in substantial ways.…”