title: Neurodevelopmental biology associated with childhood sexual abuse.
abstract: Child maltreatment appears to be the single most preventable cause of mental illness and behavioral dysfunction in the United States. Few published studies examine the developmental and the psychobiological consequences of sexual abuse. There are multiple mechanisms through which sexual abuse can cause post-traumatic stress disorder, activate biological stress response systems, and contribute to adverse brain development. This article will critically review the psychiatric problems associated with maltreatment and the emerging biologic stress system research with a special emphasis on what is known about victimization by sexual abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. debel002@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: De Bellis
authors.forename: Eve G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Spratt
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hooper
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002657:Child Development; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D002669:Child Welfare; D015897:Comorbidity; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States