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Sexual abuse and lifetime diagnosis of psychiatric disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Sexual abuse and lifetime diagnosis of psychiatric disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis

Laura P Chen, M Hassan Murad, Molly L Paras, Kristina M Colbenson, Amelia L Sattler, Erin N Goranson, Mohamed B Elamin, Richard J Seime, Gen Shinozaki, Larry J Prokop, …
Mayo Clinic proceedings, Vol.85(7), pp.618-629
07/2010
DOI: 10.4065/mcp.2009.0583
PMCID: PMC2894717
PMID: 20458101
url
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc2894717View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

To systematically assess the evidence for an association between sexual abuse and a lifetime diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.\nWe performed a comprehensive search (from January 1980-December 2008, all age groups, any language, any population) of 9 databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Current Contents, PsycINFO, ACP Journal Club, CCTR, CDSR, and DARE. Controlled vocabulary supplemented with keywords was used to define the concept areas of sexual abuse and psychiatric disorders and was limited to epidemiological studies. Six independent reviewers extracted descriptive, quality, and outcome data from eligible longitudinal studies. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled across studies by using the random-effects model. The I(2) statistic was used to assess heterogeneity.\nThe search yielded 37 eligible studies, 17 case-control and 20 cohort, with 3,162,318 participants. There was a statistically significant association between sexual abuse and a lifetime diagnosis of anxiety disorder (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 2.43-3.94), depression (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 2.14-3.30), eating disorders (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 2.04-3.63), posttraumatic stress disorder (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.59-3.43), sleep disorders (OR, 16.17; 95% CI, 2.06-126.76), and suicide attempts (OR, 4.14; 95% CI, 2.98-5.76). Associations persisted regardless of the victim's sex or the age at which abuse occurred. There was no statistically significant association between sexual abuse and a diagnosis of schizophrenia or somatoform disorders. No longitudinal studies that assessed bipolar disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder were found. Associations between sexual abuse and depression, eating disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder were strengthened by a history of rape.\nA history of sexual abuse is associated with an increased risk of a lifetime diagnosis of multiple psychiatric disorders.
 Epidemiologic Research Design Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics Depression - epidemiology Mental Disorders - epidemiology Prevalence Humans Risk Factors Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology Male Case-Control Studies Feeding and Eating Disorders - epidemiology Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology Adult Female Sex Offenses - psychology Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data Genetic Predisposition to Disease - epidemiology Mental Disorders - diagnosis Odds Ratio Child Longitudinal Studies Mental Disorders - etiology

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