Caring for adult survivors of child sexual abuse. Issues for family physicians.
Traditional medical education has not taught physicians about the long-term effects of child sexual abuse. Family physicians often feel poorly equipped to appreciate the effect of such a childhood history on current health or to recognize and treat survivors. This article links the experience of the sexually abused child to long-term effects and outlines the role of family physicians in screening and caring for survivors.
Bala
M
M
Department of Family Medicine, Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D010819:Physician's Role; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology