Depression, developmental level and disclosure in sexually abused children.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between sexual abuse disclosure, developmental level and psychopathology in children.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of case records, using chi-square and t-tests for statistical significance.


METHODS
Child and Adolescent Unit, Midlands Hospital, Pietermaritzburg.


METHODS
One hundred children consecutively admitted for all types of mental health problems.


METHODS
Diagnostic evaluations were made using the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edition, revised).


RESULTS
Forty of the 100 children had been sexually abused, but 14 (35%) of the abused children did not disclose their abuse until after admission. The post-admission disclosure group had a significantly higher mean age (13.71 years) than the pre-admission disclosure group (10.96 years). Also, significantly more post-admission disclosure children received a diagnosis of major depressive disorder than their pre-admission disclosure counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
The study highlights the issue of sexual abuse disclosure and its relationship to depression and developmental level. Internal psychological and developmental mechanisms appear to influence the disclosure/non-disclosure of sexual abuse.
Pillay
A L
AL
Sub-department of Medically Applied Psychology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
van der Veen
M B
MB
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure