Demographic characteristics and psychiatric disorders of sexually abuse children: An analysis of 343 cases

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine demographic characteristics and psychiatric diagnosis of sexually abused children and adolescents who referred for forensic examination to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient clinic. We retrospectively reviewed records of 343 children and adolescent aged 3-18 years who exposure to sexual abuse between January 2010 and 2013 by judicial authority. In all cases, age, gender, educational status, intelligence level, type and frequency of abuse, degree of familiarity of abuser and psychiatric diagnosis according to DSM-IV-TR classification were evaluated. The mean age of cases was 13.46±3.1 years. Majority of cases were girls (78.7%). It was found that 77.8% of the cases were between 12 and 18 years of age. The most common type of sexual abuse was touching and/or friction (51.6%). Majority of cases was exposed to sexual for once (57.4%). The abusers were all male, and 85.1% were known to their victim. It was found that rate of early marriage was 10.5%.The rate of mental retardation was found as 7.3%. Psychiatric disorders were determined in 71.4% of the cases, post traumatic stress disorder (37.6%) and depression (13.1%) were the most common psychiatric disorders. Given the fact that abuse has negative impact on mental health of children, long-term management should be stressed in such cases. Increasing awareness about child sexual abuse and its damaging effects is very important. Great significance should be given to the treatment and rehabilitation of the cases. İn addition, preventive measures must be taken.

Keywords

• Child and adolescent,child sexual abuse,psychiatric disorder

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