title: Childhood maltreatment and adult mental health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between reported childhood maltreatment and general psychological and post-traumatic distress was examined in a sample of 551 adults from different risk samples.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Exposure to childhood maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form, which detects physical, emotional and sexual abuse and past physical and emotional neglect.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants' current levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms and general psychological stress symptoms were measured with the Impact of Event Scale - Revised and the Symptom Checklist 90 - Revised, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results reveal a high prevalence of reported childhood maltreatment in both men and women, and the severity levels of the five types of childhood maltreatment showed significant associations with the extent of current post-traumatic and general psychological distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings emphasize the need for appropriate procedures for identifying childhood maltreatment.
authors.affiliation: a Anders Dovran, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology , University of Bergen, and Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital , Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dovran
authors.affiliation: b Dagfinn Winje, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology , University of Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Dagfinn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Winje
authors.affiliation: c Simon Øverland, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Psychosocial science , University of Bergen, and Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health , Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Øverland
authors.affiliation: d Kjersti Arefjord, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology , University of Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Kjersti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arefjord
authors.affiliation: e Anita Hansen, Faculty of Psychology, Department of Psychosocial Science , University of Bergen, and Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry. Haukeland University Hospital , Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: f Leif Waage, Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry. Haukeland University Hospital , Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Waage
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childhood maltreatment; General psychological distress; Post-traumatic stress symptoms; Risk samples