Sexual assault and mental disorders in a community population.

Abstract

In a cross-sectional probability survey of 3,132 household adults representing two Los Angeles communities, lifetime diagnoses of nine major mental disorders were compared between those who reported that they had been sexually assaulted at some time in their lives and those who reported no sexual assault. Sexual assault predicted later onset of major depressive episodes, substance use disorders (alcohol and drug abuse or dependence), and anxiety disorders (phobia, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder) but was not related to later onset of mania, schizophrenic disorders, or antisocial personality. Those who were assaulted in childhood were more likely than those first assaulted in adulthood to report the subsequent development of a mental disorder. Demographic characteristics of gender, age, Hispanic ethnic background, and education, however, were generally unrelated to the probability of developing any specific disorder after being assaulted. Finally, major depression, drug abuse or dependence, antisocial personality, and phobia were all associated with a higher probability of subsequent sexual assault.A large body of research suggests that sexual assault has severe and long-lasting mental health consequences. Studies of persons seeking treatment or other assistance have reported that those who have been sexually assaulted experience high rates of sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Reports of female sexual dysfunction after adult sexual assault

Childhood trauma, trauma in adulthood, and psychiatric diagnoses: results from a community sample

“…The only other study, to our knowledge, that examined whether individuals exposed to childhood trauma (specifically sexual assault) were more likely to develop disorders than those exposed in adulthood found, in contrast to the current study, that childhood sexual assault was more likely to be followed by onset of depression and substance use disorder [16]. Besides the obvious differences between the 2 studies in terms of trauma populations (childhood sexual assault vs general PTEs) and sites (Los Angeles vs Chile) as well as methodology (eg, DSM, Third Edition, verse DSM-III-R criteria, no assessment of PTSD) that might have accounted for discrepant findings, the study by Burnam et al [16] did not control for the number of traumas.…”

“…Besides the obvious differences between the 2 studies in terms of trauma populations (childhood sexual assault vs general PTEs) and sites (Los Angeles vs Chile) as well as methodology (eg, DSM, Third Edition, verse DSM-III-R criteria, no assessment of PTSD) that might have accounted for discrepant findings, the study by Burnam et al [16] did not control for the number of traumas.…”

“…Although there have only been a handful of studies, research suggests that PTEs experienced in childhood are associated with a greater degree of psychopathology than trauma first experienced in adulthood. For instance, in a community population, those who were sexually assaulted in childhood were more likely than those first assaulted in adulthood to report subsequent major depression, drug and alcohol use disorders, and phobias [16]. In another community-based study of adult women, women with a history of childhood abuse were more likely to exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety as compared with those who were victims of assault in adulthood [17].…”

The Relation of Child Maltreatment to Shame and Guilt Among Adolescents: Psychological Routes to Depression and Delinquency

“…Marital violence, for instance, is related to more depression and anxiety in school-age children (Hughes & Luke, 1998;McCloskey et al, 1995). In addition, harsh or abusive parenting is associated with adolescent and adult depression (Cicchetti, Rogosch, & Toth, 1994), as is sexual abuse (Burnam et al, 1988;Kendler, Kuhn, & Prescott, 2004;Paolucci, Genuis, & Violato, 2001).…”

Sadly Awake: Short Sleep Duration and Depressive Symptoms among Adolescents

“…Bullying has been associated with depression and suicidility [41]. Physical assault [42], sexual assault [43], smoking [44], and alcohol and drug abuse [45] have also been associated with depression. The YRBS data additionally supports the need to focus intervention efforts on these at-risk populations.…”