The Psychiatric Consequences of Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychiatric consequences of sexual abuse and its associated factors in children and adolescents referred to our child and adolescent psychiatry clinic from official medico-legal units.Methods: All victims of sexual abuse (n=590) aged 1-18 (mean: 13.56±3.38) referred from forensic units to Ondokuz Mayis University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic over a period of 2 years [boys: 83 (14.1%); girls: 507 (85.9%)] were included. Child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic medicine specialists evaluated all the cases. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised Form (WISC-R) and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version-Turkish Version (K-SADS-PL-T) were applied.Results: Abuse-related psychiatric diagnoses (of which 45.9% were major depressive disorder and 31.7% were post-traumatic stress disorder cases) were made in 75.2% of the cases. In 80.3% of the cases, the perpetrators were known to their victims [incest, n=91 (15.1%)], and intercourse took place in 48.8%. Although gender and age were not significantly associated with the appearance of any psychiatric disorders, severity of abuse (e.g., intercourse; p=.006), additional physical assault (p<.001), and incest (p<.001) had a significant correlation with psychiatric disorders. To explore the predictive value of multiple factors in the appearance of any sexual assault-related psychiatric disorder, a logistic regression model was used to determine the best linear combination of age, gender, abuse severity, incest, involvement of any other victim, additional physical assault, and length of time from first abuse to first psychiatric evaluation. This combination of variables (occurrence of incest, additional physical assault, and a long duration from first abuse to first psychiatric evaluation) significantly predicted the appearance of a psychiatric disorder of any kind (χ 2 =55.42; df=7; n=522; p<.001).Conclusion: Our findings reveal that the occurrence of incest, additional physical assault, and a long duration from first abuse to first psychiatric evaluation predict higher rates of sexual abuse-related psychiatric disorders.Keywords: Child sexual abuse, children and adolescence, psychiatric outcomes, trauma ABSTRACTResearch Article

Sexual Violence and Associated Factors Among Female Students at Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia

“…Studies have shown that sexual violence against women leads to a number of problems including unwanted pregnancy, increased risk of HIV/AIDS infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gynecological problems, feeling of worthlessness, depression, fear and guilty feeling about sex, powerlessness, shame, difficulty in trusting people, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even suicide [5,7,[16][17][18][19][20]. On top of that, it also exposes girls and women in schools to social consequences ranging from poor educational achievement to social withdrawal, having multiple partners, rejecting friends, drug and alcohol abuse, and even prostitution [15,17,21].…”

Impact of dental treatment on self-esteem and oral health selfperception of children and adolescents victims of sexual abuse

“…The experience of sexual abuse can affect the development of children and adolescents in various ways, with frequent depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and social isolation [1][2][3][8][9][10][11][12]. Therefore, it is important to know the emotional state of these victims, as well as to understand the real needs they present for the establishment of the best therapeutic behavior capable of helping to improve their quality of life.…”

“…Several studies have shown that children and adolescents who have been sexually abused may develop anxiety disorders, depressive and aggressive symptoms, problems with their role and sexual functioning, and serious difficulties in interpersonal relationships [11,12]. Thus, the complexity of the context lived by these young people requires a multiprofessional approach [13].…”

Profıle Of Sexually Abused Gırls

“…İstismarcıların tamamının erkek olduğu ve %80,3'ünün mağdur tarafından tanındığı görülmüştür. İstismar mağdurlarının %73,2'sinin normal zeka aralığında, %12,3'ünün sınır zeka aralığında olduğu; %12,3'ünde hafif düzeyde zeka geriliği ve %1,8'inde ise orta düzeyde zeka geriliği olduğu saptanmıştır (20) .…”