Diagnosed and self-reported childhood abuse in national and regional samples of child and adolescent psychiatric patients: Prevalences and correlates

Abstract

We investigated if rates of ICD-10 axis 5 abuse diagnoses in the total child psychiatric population in Norway were different from self-reported abuse at 12-18?years of age, and we investigated their respective correlates. Study 1: The official registers of the total child psychiatric population in Norway in the years 2000 and 2001 were analysed for rates and correlates of axis 5 diagnoses of sexual and physical abuse. Study 2: Self-reports of abuse and neglect in a representative clinical sample of 129 adolescents referred during the same period were analysed for rates and correlates Prevalence of diagnosed sexual abuse inside and outside the family was low (1.6% and 1.9%, respectively) in the total Norwegian clinical population, and physical abuse diagnoses were even lower (0.4%). Self-reports of abuse and neglect were much higher (60.2%). One-fourth (25.5%) of the adolescents reported more than one kind of abuse. Self-reports of abuse were associated with referral for depression, symptoms of depression and suicidal risk. Patients reporting physical abuse were more often intoxicated by alcohol, used solvents and cannabis, and scored higher on the Youth Self-Report externalizing syndrome. There is a large discrepancy between rates of ICD-10 axis 5 diagnoses of sexual and physical abuse and self-reports of such abuse. Childhood abuse needs more attention in clinical practice within child and adolescent psychiatry. Physical abuse needs to be addressed in particular.

Awareness and knowledge of child abuse amongst physicians – a descriptive study by a sample of rural Austria

“…A number of studies document a discrepancy between offi cial numbers and data from epidemiological research [45][46][47]. Shaff er et al argue that diff erences in study designs (prospective, retrospective or combined designs) are responsible for broad ranges [5].…”

Mental health differences between frequent cannabis users with and without dependence and the general population

“…This is also true for childhood adversities [27,28]. In particular, it has been suggested that the development of cannabis abuse and dependence symptoms are influenced by childhood maltreatment both directly and through the development of externalizing (but not internalizing) disorders [29].…”

“…Additionally, using a list of examples, participants were asked whether they had experienced emotional, psychological, physical and/or sexual abuse [27,41,42]. The examples included parental ignorance of one's problems and experiences, being subordinated to siblings, being beaten up or being touched or having to touch someone in a sexual way.…”

Pakkeforløpene i psykisk helsevern er feil medisin

“…I McFarlanes undersøkelse fra 2006 som er referert over var det hele 56% av de som hadde opplevd vold og seksuelle overgrep der dette ikke var nevnt i pasientenes journaler. I en norsk undersø-kelse (Reigstad et al 2006), var det 60,2% av 129 ungdommer som gikk i behandling i Barne-og ungdomspsykiatriske poliklinikker som på en spørreundersøkelse rapporterte å ha vaert utsatt for fysisk mishandling eller seksuelt misbruk. Imidlertid var det kun 1,6-1,9% (i og utenfor familie) av de samme 129 ungdommene som hadde fått diagnostisert seksuelt misbruk, og kun 0,4% av ungdommene som hadde fått diagnostisert at de hadde vaert utsatt for vold.…”