Identification of child sexual abuse and prevention of psychiatric morbidity
Date
2016
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics
Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a hidden and under-reported problem in psychiatry. CSA has been studied in various
epidemiological data based studies and has been found to be a significant risk factor for the development of
psychiatric illness in later life. Depression, suicide and suicidal attempts as well as self-injurious behaviour have all
been reported to be significantly greater in patients than have been exposed to CSA versus those who have not been
exposed to the same. There are studies that demonstrate higher rates of substance abuse, body image disturbances,
eating disorders and cluster B personality traits in patients that have been exposed to CSA. The paper looks at the
available data on lifetime occurrence of psychiatric disorders in patients that have been exposed to CSA. The various
mechanisms by which CSA exposure can lead to psychiatric disorders in adulthood are discussed and the need for
identification, assessment and clinically evaluating the presence of CSA in patients in routine clinical practice is
highlighted.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
Psychiatric disorders, child sexual abuse, depression, suicide, eating disorders, lifetime
Citation
Desousa, A. A., Karia, S. B., Shah, N. B., & Shrivastava, A. A. (2016). Identification of child sexual abuse and prevention of psychiatric morbidity. International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics, 3(1), 1-7.