The prevalence of a history of childhood sexual abuse in an acute adult inpatient population.
The prevalence of a history of childhood sexual abuse in a series of admissions to a general psychiatric hospital was estimated. One hundred and twenty subjects were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Case notes were examined to determine previous documented disclosure, diagnosis, and rates of admission and deliberate self harm. Forty-six percent reported a history of childhood sexual abuse by questionnaire. Case note review revealed a rate of 14% of previously documented disclosure. The patterns of abuse broadly correspond with those usually reported as causing problems with adjustment in adult life. It may be concluded that a high proportion of psychiatric inpatients report a history of childhood sexual abuse many of whom have not disclosed this history to their psychiatrists.
Wurr
C J
CJ
Limetrees Child, Adolescent, and Family Unit, York, North Yorkshire, UK.
Partridge
I M
IM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure; D017678:Sex Distribution