Sexual assault and mental disorders in a community population.

Abstract

A cross-sectional probability survey of 3132 household adults was conducted in two Los Angeles communities in order to examine the relationship between sexual assault and prevalence of 9 major mental disorders. Diagnoses of mental disorders were compared between those subjects who reported that they have experienced sexual abuse at some time in their lives and those who were not exposed to sexual assault. Disorders assessed include major depression mania schizophrenia alcohol abuse or dependence antisocial personality phobia panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Findings revealed that 13.2% of the studied population have been experiencing lifetime sexual assault. Those who were exposed to childhood sexual abuse were more likely than those assaulted in adulthood to report the development of a mental disorder. Lifetime prevalences of affective disorder including major depressive and manic disorders and drug abuse or dependence as well as three anxiety disorders including phobia mania and obsessive-compulsive disorder were significantly higher among assaulted individuals. The risk ratios indicate that the onset of associated disorder after assault was 2.3-4.0 times greater among the assaulted group relative to the nonassaulted ones. However Hispanic ethnic background and education were unrelated to the occurrence of mental disorders following sexual assault.