Impact of child sexual abuse on mental health

TLDR

Prospective data on male victims of child sexual abuse are scarce, leaving key questions about its link to later psychopathology. The study aims to assess whether child sexual abuse in boys and girls predicts subsequent mental‑health treatment in a prospective cohort. The authors linked records of 1,489 abused children to mental‑health treatment data and compared them to same‑age general population controls over time. Abused children had markedly higher psychiatric treatment rates (12.4% vs 3.6%), especially for childhood mental disorders, personality, anxiety, and major affective disorders, with males showing higher rates than females (22.8% vs 10.2%) but no increase in schizophrenia.

Abstract

Background The lack of prospective studies and data on male victims leaves major questions regarding associations between child sexual abuse and subsequent psychopathology. Aims To examine the association between child sexual abuse in both boys and girls and subsequent treatment for mental disorder using a prospective cohort design. Method Children ( n =16L2; 1327 female) ascertained as sexually abused at the time had their histories of mental health treatment established by data linkage and compared with the general population of the same age over a specified period. Results Both male and female victims of abuse had significantly higher rates of psychiatric treatment during the study period than general population controls (12.4% v. 3.6%). Rates were higher for childhood mental disorders, personality disorders, anxiety disorders and major affective disorders, but not for schizophrenia. Male victims were significantly more likely to have had treatment than females (22.8% v. 10.2%). Conclusions This prospective study demonstrates an association between child sexual abuse validated at the time and a subsequent increase in rates of childhood and adult mental disorders.