title: Increased prevalence of electrophysiological abnormalities in children with psychological, physical, and sexual abuse.
abstract: This retrospective study examined the association between abuse history and neurological abnormalities in 115 consecutive patients admitted to a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit. Increased electrophysiological abnormalities were found in abused patients compared with non-abused patients (54.4% vs. 26.9%, P = 0.021), predominantly in the left side of the frontal, temporal, or anterior region (P = 0.036). This may support the hypothesis that early abuse alters brain development, particularly limbic structures. However, a large-scale prospective longitudinal assessment study is needed to interpret this association. Possible clinical consequences of relatively preserved right frontal function are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Teicher
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Glod
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magnus
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Gelbard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015995:Prevalence