title: Is reported childhood sexual abuse associated with the psychopathological characteristics of patients who experience auditory hallucinations?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether reported childhood sexual abuse is related to the severity of symptoms in patients who experience auditory hallucinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 26 adult male and females with psychotic disorders involving auditory hallucinations were interviewed and were asked to complete three self-report measures: the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II and DES-taxon versions); the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); and the Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ). They were also asked about any history of sexual abuse in childhood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A history of childhood sexual abuse was reported by 10 of the 26 patients (38.5%), and was associated with higher levels of depression and dissociation, as well as being linked to a tendency to regard the voices as more malevolent. The same three features were all associated with the age at first reported abuse, with a younger age of first experience being related to higher levels of psychopathology in all instances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results require replication and refinement in future research, but indicate a need for greater attention to be paid to the possible role of childhood sexual abuse when understanding and treating auditory hallucinations.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Offen
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: Glyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011599:Psychopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D006113:United Kingdom