Sexual and physical abuse during childhood and adulthood as predictors of hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder
Date
2003
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Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, research and practice
Abstract
In light of recent studies indicating a relationship between child abuse and the positive
symptoms of schizophrenia, this study investigated the hypotheses that childhood
sexual and physical abuse are related to hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder
in adults, and that those relationships are greater in those who have suffered abuse
during adulthood as well as childhood. In 200 community mental-health-centre clients,
the clinically evaluated symptomatology of the 92 clients whose les documented
sexual or physical abuse at some point in their lives was compared with that of the 108
for whom no abuse was documented. In the 60 patients for whom child abuse was documented, hallucinations (including all six subtypes), but not delusions, thought
disorder or negative symptoms, were signi cantly more common than in the non- abused group. Adult sexual assault was related to hallucinations, delusions, and thought
disorder. In linear regression analysis, a combination of child abuse and adult abuse
predicted hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder. However, child abuse was a
signi cant predictor of auditory and tactile hallucinations, even in the absence of adult
abuse. Possible psychological and neurobiological pathways from abuse to symptoms are discussed, along with research and clinical implications
Description
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Keywords
International Resources, New Zealand, child abuse, sexual abuse, long term effects, mental health outcomes, research
Citation
Read, J., Agar, K., Argyle, N., & Aderhold, V. (2003). Sexual and physical abuse during childhood and adulthood as predictors of hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, research and practice, 76(1), 1-22.