The Relevance of Childhood Sexual Abuse to Adult Psychiatric Inpatient Care
Abstract
The prevalence and characteristics of childhood sexual abuse among 50 male and 5O female psychiatric inpatients were assessed in direct interviews. Forty patients reported some type of childhood sexual abuse. Abuse involving genital contact was reported by one in six men inpatients and one in five women and was often recurrent. Forty-four percent of patients who had experienced serious abuse had not revealed it to anyone, including prior therapists. Patients often reported that the abuse experiences continued to affect their current functioning. In clinical assessments, routine inquiry about childhood sexual abuse appears justified to clarify diagnoses and establish effective treatment plans. The authors make specific recommendations for a brief, routine clinical assessment for history of childhood sexual abuse.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).
