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

Women's Experiences Accessing Mental Health Care in Australia After Sexual Violence in Adulthood

In Australia, at least one in every five women has experienced sexual violence since age 15. Research consistently links sexual violence with poor mental health, persisting long after the crisis period. Trauma-informed mental health support is therefore critical. This article draws on interviews with 29 women who had experienced sexual violence to understand their experiences accessing mental health services in Australia. Our findings suggest that, constrained by a biomedical model of care, mental health practitioners' understanding of trauma generally, and sexual violence particularly, may be lacking. Further, women struggle to navigate a "maze" of services.

The Role of Personality, Just World Beliefs, and Rape Myth Acceptance on Sexual Violence Bystander Intentions

Socioecological models of bystander intervention suggest that a complex decision-making process is required for a prosocial bystander to intervene, starting with intrapersonal variables of cognition and personality. This study investigates how rape myth acceptance, personality, and just world beliefs impact the frequency of positive bystander intention. The study's sample size consisted of 139 college students. Participants completed an online survey in which they read a vignette and indicated whether they would intervene as a bystander at 25 different instances throughout the vignette. Correlational analyses showed that agreeableness and openness were positively associated with prosocial bystander behavioral intention. A multiple regression analysis found only the belief that the world was a safe and good place was predictive of prosocial bystander behavioral intention. The results suggest that bystander intervention education programs should be revised to address just world beliefs.

Beyond Symptoms - A Cross-Sectional Study Exploring Functioning in Psychiatric Outpatients

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore factors influencing functioning in psychiatric outpatients, both separately and in combination. The primary objectives were to determine predictors of functioning, assess their significance in a combined analysis, and quantify their collective predictive power.

METHOD

A sample of 137 psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) participated in this cross-sectional study, undergoing semi-structured diagnostic interviews for psychiatric and personality disorders. Participants also completed assessments of current functioning, personality traits (temperament and character), attachment style, and childhood trauma. Linear regression models were employed to analyse the relationships between these factors and level of functioning.

RESULTS

The majority of temperament and character traits and attachment dimensions, as well as having a personality disorder, predicted impaired functioning, but comorbidity and childhood trauma did not. When all variables were taken into account in a multiple regression analysis, only the temperament and character traits Harm Avoidance and Self-directedness remained significantly predictive (p = .006 and .003, respectively). These two factors explain about one-third of the variance.

CONCLUSIONS

Personality traits-more specifically, the temperament trait Harm Avoidance and the character trait Self-directedness-are strong predictors of functioning among psychiatric outpatients. Interestingly, when accounting for these factors, traditionally associated variables, such as attachment, comorbidity, and childhood trauma, lost their significance as predictors. These findings underscore the pivotal role of specific personality traits in understanding and predicting the functioning of psychiatric patients.

Pediatric suicide: Review of a preventable tragedy

Concepts of suicide are explored in this issue with a focus on suicide in children and adolescents. The epidemiology of pediatric suicide in the United States is reviewed; also, risk and protective factors, as well as prevention strategies, are discussed. Suicide in the pediatric athlete and the potential protective effect of exercise are examined. In addition, this analysis addresses the beneficial role of psychological management as well as current research on pharmacologic treatment and brain stimulation procedures as part of comprehensive pediatric suicide prevention. Though death by suicide in pediatric persons has been and remains a tragic phenomenon, there is much that clinicians, other healthcare professionals, and society itself can accomplish in the prevention of pediatric suicide as well as the management of suicidality in our children and adolescents.

Microglia: The Drunken Gardeners of Early Adversity

Early life adversity (ELA) is a heterogeneous group of negative childhood experiences that can lead to abnormal brain development and more severe psychiatric, neurological, and medical conditions in adulthood. According to the immune hypothesis, ELA leads to an abnormal immune response characterized by high levels of inflammatory cytokines. This abnormal immune response contributes to more severe negative health outcomes and a refractory response to treatment in individuals with a history of ELA. Here, we examine this hypothesis in the context of recent rodent studies that focus on the impact of ELA on microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain. We review recent progress in our ability to mechanistically link molecular alterations in microglial function during a critical period of development with changes in synaptic connectivity, cognition, and stress reactivity later in life. We also examine recent research showing that ELA induces long-term alterations in microglial inflammatory response to "secondary hits" such as traumatic brain injury, substance use, and exposure to additional stress in adulthood. We conclude with a discussion on future directions and unresolved questions regarding the signals that modify microglial function and the clinical significance of rodent studies for humans.

Terror catastrophizing: association with anxiety, depression, and transgenerational effects

Background & Objectives: Terror catastrophizing, defined as an ongoing fear of future terrorist attacks, is associated with a higher incidence of anxiety disorders, among other psychological impacts. However, previous studies examining terror catastrophizing's relationship to other mental health disorders are limited. The current study sought to determine if patients diagnosed with anxiety and depression would experience increased terror catastrophizing. Additionally, this study aimed to investigate whether parental terror catastrophizing increases children's internalizing symptoms.Design & Methods: Individuals were randomly drawn from the Danish Civil Registration System and invited to complete a series of questionnaires to measure terror catastrophizing tendency, lifetime parental trauma, and children's internalizing symptoms. In total, n = 4,175 invitees completed the survey of which 933 reported on a child between 6 and 18 years. Responses were analyzed using a generalized linear regression model.Results: Participants diagnosed with anxiety alone or comorbid with depression were more likely to experience symptoms of terror catastrophizing than undiagnosed participants (β = 0.10, p < .001; β = 0.07, p = .012). Furthermore, the parental tendency to catastrophize terror was associated with higher internalizing symptoms in children (β = 0.09, p = .006), even after taking parental diagnoses, as well as lifetime and childhood trauma into account.Conclusion: The results can inform clinical practices to account for a patient's potential to exhibit increased terror catastrophizing tendencies or be more affected by traumatic events. Additionally, they can offer insights for designing novel preventative interventions for the whole family, due to the relation between parental tendencies for terror catastrophizing and the internalizing symptoms observed in children.

Feasibility of a trauma-focused internet- and mobile-based intervention for youth with posttraumatic stress symptoms

Background: Many youth with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) do not receive evidence-based care. Internet- and Mobile-Based Interventions (IMIs) comprising evidence-based trauma-focused components can address this gap, but research is scarce. Thus, we investigated the feasibility of a trauma-focused IMI for youth with PTSS.Methods: In a one-arm non-randomized prospective proof-of-concept study, 32 youths aged 15-21 years with clinically relevant PTSS (CATS ≥ 21) received access to a trauma-focused IMI with therapist guidance, comprising nine sessions on an eHealth platform accessible via web-browser. We used a feasibility framework assessing recruitment capability, sample characteristics, data collection, satisfaction, acceptability, study management abilities, safety aspects, and efficacy of the IMI in PTSS severity and related outcomes. Self-rated assessments took place pre-, mid-, post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up and clinician-rated assessments at baseline and post-intervention.Results: The sample mainly consisted of young adult females with interpersonal trauma and high PTSS levels (CATS, M = 31.63, SD = 7.64). The IMI sessions were found useful and comprehensible, whereas feasibility of trauma processing was perceived as difficult. Around one-third of participants (31%) completed the IMI's eight core sessions. The study completer analysis showed a significant reduction with large effects in self-rated PTSS at post-treatment [t(21) = 4.27; p < .001; d = 0.88] and follow-up [t(18) = 3.83; p = .001; d = 0.84], and clinician-rated PTSD severity at post-treatment [t(21) = 4.52; p < .001; d = 0.93]. The intention-to-treat analysis indicated significant reductions for PTSS at post-treatment and follow-up with large effect sizes (d = -0.97- -1.02). All participants experienced at least one negative effect, with the most common being the resurfacing of unpleasant memories (n = 17/22, 77%).Conclusion: The study reached highly burdened young adults. The IMI was accepted in terms of usefulness and comprehensibility but many youths did not complete all sessions. Exploration of strategies to improve adherence in trauma-focused IMIs for youth is warranted, alongside the evaluation of the IMI's efficacy in a subsequent randomized controlled trial.

Adolescents Who Have Been Sexually Abused: Trauma Symptoms and Self-Blame while Waiting for Treatment

OBJECTIVE

Adolescents who have been sexually abused commonly experience trauma symptoms, and many are referred for trauma-based treatment. However, they sometimes spend considerable time on waitlists before beginning treatment. This study examines the course of trauma symptoms among adolescents who have been sexually abused and are waiting for treatment, and the extent to which self-blame for the abuse predicts trauma symptoms at the beginning of treatment.

METHOD

Participants were 127 adolescents (89.0% female, Mage = 13.61 years; 53.2% identified as Hispanic) at a Children's Advocacy Center in the southern United States. All had reported being sexually abused. Participants reported on their trauma symptoms and self-blame appraisals at a screening assessment (T1), and trauma symptoms were re-assessed at the beginning of treatment (T2).

RESULTS

The mean level of trauma symptoms declined over time for the total sample. Regression analyses indicated that greater self-blame for the abuse at T1 was associated with higher levels of trauma symptoms at T2, even when controlling for T1 trauma symptoms and other correlates of T2 trauma symptoms. Higher levels of trauma symptoms at T1 and adolescent sex (female) were also associated with higher levels of trauma symptoms at T2.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that assessing for self-blame for sexual abuse may be important in triage and treatment planning for youth with trauma symptoms after experiencing sexual abuse.

Posttraumatic growth, spiritual damage, and psychosocial and mental health problems in survivors of clergy-perpetrated child sexual abuse: A mixed methods approach

INTRODUCTION

Although clergy-perpetrated child sexual abuse (CSA) implies severe traumatic repercussions for the victims, they may also experience posttraumatic growth (PTG) deriving from the need to deal with the trauma suffered. This PTG is associated with the processes of recovery, healing, and empowerment.

OBJECTIVE

Applying a mixed methods approach to analyse PTG outcomes and to explore experiences of PTG in survivors of Spanish clergy-perpetrated CSA and its relation with psychosocial, mental and spiritual suffering.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-one survivors (M = 51.6 years; SD = 12.4) in the quantitative stage of the research, and seven (M = 49.3; SD = 8.9) in the qualitative stage.

METHODS

A sequential explanatory mixed methods study design was applied using standardized questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Descriptive, correlation and thematic analyses were conducted. The quantitative and qualitative data were integrated.

RESULTS

Positive associations were found between PTG and psychosocial and mental health problems (r = 0.53; p < .01), damage to faith in God (r = 0.43; p < .05) and damage to faith in the Church (r = 0.48; p < .01). Three themes emerged from the qualitative data that explained, expanded, and complemented the quantitative results, highlighting the relationship between damage and growth and the specific meanings of PTG from the perspectives of the survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that survivors may develop PTG in the course of the processes of psychological suffering, spiritual transformation, and meaning-making of traumatic experiences.

The Global Prevalence of Non-suicidal Self-injury, Suicide Behaviors, and Associated Risk Factors Among Runaway and Homeless Youth: A Meta-analysis

A meta-analysis was performed to determine pooled prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicide behaviors (including ideation, attempts), and associated risk factors among runaway and homeless youth (RHY). The databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies published from January 1995 to May 2023. Initially, 8465 papers were screened, resulting in 69 included studies. The results showed that among RHY, lifetime prevalence rates were 42% for NSSI, 38% for suicidal ideation, and 27% for suicide attempts. Lifetime prevalence of NSSI and suicide behaviors was higher among adolescent minors (aged 12-17 years) compared to young adults (aged 18-24 years). Also, NSSI and suicide behaviors were associated with having a childhood history of physical and sexual abuse. Developing an impactful community-based suicide prevention campaign tailored for RHY appears warranted. Peer groups and mentorship programs would provide invaluable support for young individuals, as supportive friendships protect against NSSI.

Differences Between Girls and Boys in the Disclosure of Sexual Violence

This article addresses the differences between girls and boys in the disclosure of sexual violence. The dataset combines data from the Finnish Child Victim Survey (FCVS) of 2008 (N = 13,459) and 2013 (N = 11,364), focusing on victims of sexual violence, ages 11 to 17 years, from the perspectives of disclosure and gender. Frequency and percentage analysis, cross tabulation, and a Chi-square test were used in the analysis. In the FCVS for both years, around 85% of the victims were girls. In almost two-thirds of the cases, the offender was a relative, friend, or some other known person, while in more than one-third of the cases, the offender was unknown to the victim. The second most common case was that the victim knew the offender, who was not, however, a friend. Sexual violence was found to be, in many ways, gendered. Most of the victims were girls, and most of the offenders were men. There was also a gender difference in the disclosure of experiences. Twenty-one percent of the girls and 45% of the boys reported that they had not told anyone about their experiences. Irrespective of the type of offender, the victims most often (63%) told a peer about their experiences, while 23% told parents, and only 10% told authorities. Moreover, victims reported shame and fear, distrust toward adults, and disbelief that disclosure would be helpful as reasons for not disclosing their experiences. To address this problem, raising awareness of the phenomenon, promoting an atmosphere that supports disclosing experiences of sexual violence, and improving readiness to address them are required.

Increased prevalence of lower extremity soft tissue injuries and surgeries in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

PURPOSE

An abundance of literature exists linking eating disorders and fracture risk. However, no studies, to our knowledge, have investigated the impact of eating disorders on lower extremity soft tissue injury or surgery risk. The purpose of this study was to determine if anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are associated with prevalence of lower extremity soft tissue injuries and surgeries.

METHODS

Patients with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa over 2010-2020 were identified through the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes in the PearlDiver Claims Database. Patients were matched by age, gender, comorbidities, record dates, and region to control groups without anorexia or bulimia. Soft tissue injuries were identified through ICD codes, and surgeries were identified through Current Procedural Terminology codes. Differences in relative prevalence were analyzed using chi-square analysis.

RESULTS

Patients with anorexia had a significantly increased prevalence of meniscus tears (RR = 1.57, CI 1.22-2.03, p = 0.001) or deltoid ligament sprains (RR = 1.83, CI 1.10-3.03, p = 0.025), and patients with bulimia had a significantly increased prevalence of meniscus tears (RR = 1.98, CI 1.56-2.51, p < 0.001), medial collateral ligament sprains (RR = 3.07, CI 1.72-5.48, p < 0.001), any cruciate ligament tears (RR = 2.14, CI 1.29-3.53, p = 0.004), unspecified ankle sprains (RR = 1.56, CI 1.22-1.99, p < 0.001), or any ankle ligament sprains (RR = 1.27, CI 1.07-1.52, p = 0.008). Patients with anorexia had a significantly increased prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (RR = 2.83, CI 1.12-7.17, p = 0.037) or any meniscus surgeries (RR = 1.54, CI 1.03-2.29, p = 0.042), and patients with bulimia had a significantly increased prevalence of partial meniscectomies (RR = 1.80, CI 1.26-2.58, p = 0.002) or any meniscus surgeries (RR = 1.83, CI 1.29-2.60, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Anorexia and bulimia are associated with increased prevalence of soft tissue injuries and surgeries. Orthopedic surgeons should be aware of this risk, and patients presenting to clinics should be informed of the risks associated with these diagnoses and provided with resources promoting recovery to help prevent further injury or surgery.

Complex Intersections Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Negative Life Events Impact the Phenome of Major Depression

Background

There is evidence that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and negative life events (NLEs) are associated with major depression (MDD).

Purpose

To determine whether ACEs affect all features of mild MDD, including suicidal tendencies, brooding, neuroticism, insomnia, cognitive deficits, severity of depression and anxiety, and cognitive deficits, and whether NLEs mediate these effects.

Sample of the Study and Methods

This study examines a cohort of 118 academic students, namely 74 students who satisfied the DSM-5-TR criteria for MDD and 44 normal control students. We assessed brooding, neuroticism, suicidal ideation and attempts, and the severity of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the Stroop tests.

Results

One validated factor could be extracted from brooding, neuroticism, current suicidal behaviors, and the severity of depression, anxiety, and insomnia, labeled the phenome of depression. A large part of the variance in the phenome of depression (55.0%) was explained by the combined effects of self-, relationships, and academic-related NLEs in conjunction with ACEs, including family dysfunction and abuse and neglect (both physical and emotional). The latter ACEs significantly interacted (moderating effect) with NLEs to impact the depression phenome. Although sexual abuse did not have direct effects on the phenome, its effects were mediated by NLEs. We discovered that increased sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse and neglect, and ACEs related to family dysfunction predicted 22.5% of the variance in NLEs. Up to 18.5% of the variance in the Stroop test scores was explained by sexual abuse and the phenome of depression. The latter mediated the effects of NLEs and abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction on the Stroop test scores.

Conclusion

Complex intersections between ACEs and NLEs impact the phenome of depression, which comprises neuroticism, brooding, suicidal tendencies, and the severity of insomnia, anxiety, and depression, while sexual abuse together with other ACEs and NLEs may impact cognitive interference inhibition.

Metabolic syndrome after childhood trauma: a 9-year longitudinal analysis

BACKGROUND

Childhood trauma (CT) has been cross-sectionally associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), a group of biological risk factors for cardiometabolic disease. Longitudinal studies, while rare, would clarify the development of cardiometabolic dysregulations over time. Therefore, we longitudinally investigated the association of CT with the 9-year course of MetS components.

METHODS

Participants (N = 2958) from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety were assessed four times across 9 years. The CT interview retrospectively assessed childhood emotional neglect and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Metabolic outcomes encompassed continuous MetS components (waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, blood pressure [BP], and glucose) and count of clinically elevated MetS components. Mixed-effects models estimated sociodemographic- and lifestyle-adjusted longitudinal associations of CT with metabolic outcomes over time. Time interactions evaluated change in these associations.

RESULTS

CT was reported by 49% of participants. CT was consistently associated with increased waist (b = 0.32, s.e. = 0.10, p = 0.001), glucose (b = 0.02, s.e. = 0.01, p < 0.001), and count of MetS components (b = 0.04, s.e. = 0.01, p < 0.001); and decreased HDL cholesterol (b = -0.01, s.e.<0.01, p = .020) and systolic BP (b = -0.33, s.e. = 0.13, p = 0.010). These associations were mainly driven by severe CT and unaffected by lifestyle. Only systolic BP showed a CT-by-time interaction, where CT was associated with lower systolic BP initially and with higher systolic BP at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Over time, adults with CT have overall persistent poorer metabolic outcomes than their non-maltreated peers. Individuals with CT have an increased risk for cardiometabolic disease and may benefit from monitoring and early interventions targeting metabolism.

Childhood neglect, the neglected trauma. A systematic review and meta-analysis of its prevalence in psychiatric disorders

Traumatic events increase risk of mental illnesses, but childhood neglect prevalence in psychiatric disorders is understudied. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed neglect prevalence, including emotional neglect (EN) and physical neglect (PN), among adults with psychiatric disorders. We conducted a systematic search and meta-analysis in 122 studies assessing different psychiatric disorders. Prevalence was 46.6% (95%CI[34.5-59.0]) for unspecified neglect (Ne), 43.1% (95%CI[39.0-47.4]) for EN, and 34.8% (95%CI[30.6-39.2]) for PN. Although a moderating effect of the psychiatric diagnostic category was not confirmed, some clinical diagnoses had significantly lower prevalence rates than others. Patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder showed lower prevalence rates of EN and PN, whereas lower prevalence was found in psychotic disorders and eating disorders for PN only. Neglect assessment was a significant moderator for Ne and PN. No moderating effect of age and sex on neglect prevalence was found. Heterogeneity levels within and between psychiatric diagnostic categories remained high. This is the first meta-analysis examining diverse types of neglect prevalence considering different psychiatric diagnoses. Our results explore the prevalence of childhood neglect and its subtypes among adults with psychiatric disorders, contributing to understanding the nuanced interplay between neglect and specific psychiatric conditions, and guiding interventions for affected individuals.

Gynecological health and uptake of gynecological care after domestic or sexual violence: a qualitative study in an emergency shelter

BACKGROUND

Domestic and sexual violence have been linked to adverse gynecological and obstetric outcomes. Survivors often find it difficult to verbalize such violence due to feelings of shame and guilt. Vulnerable or socially excluded women are frequently excluded from research, particularly qualitative studies on violence. This study aimed to characterize the perceived impact of domestic or sexual violence on the gynecological health and follow-up among women with complex social situations.

METHODS

We analyzed the data following inductive thematic analysis methods.

RESULTS

Between April 2022 and January 2023, we conducted 25 semi-structured interviews, lasting on average 90 min (range: 45-180), with women aged between 19 and 52, recruited in an emergency shelter in the Paris area. The women described physical and psychological violence mainly in the domestic sphere, their altered gynecological and mental health and their perception of gynecological care. The levels of uptake of gynecological care were related to the characteristics of the violence and their consequences. The description of gynecological examination was close to the description of coerced marital sexuality which was not considered to be sexual violence. Gynecological examination, likely to trigger embarrassment and discomfort, was always perceived to be necessary and justified, and consent was implied.

CONCLUSION

This study can help question the appropriateness of professional practices related to the prevention of violence against women and gynecological examination practices. Any gynecological examination should be carried out within the framework of an equal relationship between caregiver and patient, for the general population and for women with a history of violence. It participates in preventing violence in the context of care, and more widely, in preventing violence against women.

Healers that hurt: a scoping review of media reports of cases of rape in healthcare settings

BACKGROUND

Sexual assault occurring within healthcare settings represents a significant breach of public trust. This scoping review aimed to highlight the profile of people raped, those who committed the rape within the health facilities, and the legal actions taken to resolved cases.

METHODS

Media-reported data on incidents of rape in healthcare settings were collected. The search was conducted in May and June 2023, focusing on English-language publications with accessible full texts. Reports that lacked information on the survivors or incidents that occurred outside of healthcare settings were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the categories of the collected publications, and graphical representations were employed for visualization purposes.

RESULTS

A total of 62 cases were retrieved, originating from Africa (n = 17; 27.4%), Europe (n = 14; 22.6%), Southeast Asia (n = 14; 22.6%), the Americas (n = 11; 17.7%), the Western Pacific Region (n = 5; 8.1%) and Eastern Mediterranean region (n = 1; 1.6%). In addition, 69 individuals were implicated in 59 cases. They were 31 doctors (44.9%), 17 (24.6%) nurses, four (5.8%) nurse/healthcare assistants, three (4.3%) cleaners/ward boy, two (2.9%) traditional medical doctors, and two (2.9%) security guards. Others included six (8.7%) staff members without designations and one (1.4%) ambulance driver. All perpetrators were male, ranging in age from 22 to 67 years. There were 66 victims identified in the 62 cases with age ranging from 2 to 92 years. Except for one case, all victims were female, and all but one case were patients. Most assaults occurred in consulting rooms/clinics (n = 21; 31.8%), 16 (24.2%) happened under sedation, and six (9.1%) were repeatedly raped, Survivors typically reported the cases the police (n = 12; 19.4%), family/friends (n = 11; 17.7%) or to hospital authorities (n = 10; 16.1%). Out of the 69 perpetrators, 19 (30.6%) were imprisoned with sentences ranging from 12 months to an indefinite period and one (1.6%) received a death sentence.

CONCLUSION

The raping of patients by healthcare providers within healthcare settings calls for urgent and extensive measures. Stakeholders in healthcare management need to prioritize raising awareness about the problem, implement robust prevention and reporting strategies, and create healthcare environments that are safe, respectful, and supportive for all individuals seeking care.

Support or justice: a triangulated multi-focal view of sexual assault victim support in a UK sexual assault referral centre (SARC)

BACKGROUND

Despite vast levels of underreporting, sexual assault remains an issue at scale in the UK, necessitating the presence of statutory and voluntary organisations in the support of victims. Understanding the experiences of all parties within this context is important for the resilience of support that can be provided at a systems level. This study examines the barriers faced by service providers when working with victims of sexual assault.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews took place with eleven professionals working in or in conjunction with a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Southeast England, which were subsequently analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Five themes were identified exploring SARC staff's experiences with (i) communication breakdowns with external services; (ii) delivering support in an underfunded system; (iii) tailoring support to survivors' needs; (iv) the Criminal Justice System fails victims of sexual assault; and (v) reckoning with burnouts and vicarious trauma.

CONCLUSION

Significant gaps in UK service provision for sexual assault victims are identified, particularly within the criminal justice system, where legal and investigative processes are cited as retraumatizing. The results emphasize the urgency of enhanced training, coordination, resources, and trauma-informed practices across organizations to better serve victims and support overwhelmed providers. Prioritizing systemic improvements is crucial to address the complex needs of both victims and service professionals.

Childhood Violence, High School Academic Environment, and Adult Alcohol Use Among Latinas and Black Women: A Structural Equation Modeling Study

OBJECTIVE

Young Latinas and Black women drink less than women of other racial/ethnic groups but experience more alcohol-related problems in midlife. This study aims to identify modifiable factors to prevent adult onset of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in this population.

METHODS

Data were collected at six time points as part of the Harlem Longitudinal Development Study from 365 Latinas (47%) and Black (53%) women (mean age at time 1 = 14, standard deviation 1.3). Structural equation modeling was used to test hypothesized pathways from childhood physical and sexual abuse to AUD via depressive mood, anxiety disorders, and somatic complaints in the 20s. We also tested the moderation effect of the high school academic environment by including in the structural equation model two latent variable interaction terms between the school environment and each of the abuse variables.

RESULTS

Childhood physical and sexual abuse was positively associated with depressive mood, anxiety disorders, and somatic complaints when participants were in the 20s. Depressive mood mediated childhood abuse and AUD when women were in the 30s. The high school academic environment attenuated the effect of physical, but not sexual abuse, on depressive mood (β = -0.59, B = -9.38, 95% CI [-14.00, -4.76]), anxiety symptoms (β = -0.61, B = -14.19, 95% CI [-21.76, -6.61]), appetite loss (β = -0.41, B = -10.52, 95% CI [-15.61, -5.42]), and sleeplessness (β = -0.50, B = -9.56, 95% CI [-13.95, -5.17]) in the early 20s.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the need to invest in early violence prevention interventions and in education to ensure equitable access to quality, academically oriented, and safe schools.

Differential associations of adverse childhood experiences and mental health outcomes in U.S. military veterans

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are robustly associated with adverse mental health outcomes across the lifespan. Military veterans may be particularly vulnerable to adverse mental health effects of ACEs given their potentially higher prevalence of childhood traumas and compounding effects of military service-related traumas. To date, however, scarce research has examined the differential impact of individual ACEs on mental health outcomes in population-based samples of veterans. To address this gap, we analyzed data from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 4069 U.S. veterans, to examine the association between specific ACEs and major depressive, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorders, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Results of multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that emotional neglect and sexual abuse were most consistently associated with these outcomes, even after adjustment for the number of ACEs endorsed. Collectively, results of this study underscore the importance of assessing for specific ACEs-most notably childhood emotional neglect and sexual abuse-and treating these potentially unresolved childhood traumas in veterans.

Disclosure of sexual abuse by adolescents treated in a psychiatry department

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study is to describe the population of adolescents who have disclosed sexual abuse to a health professional during their care in a psychiatric department. We also want to discuss the circumstances that enable adolescents to make this disclosure.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective observational study is based on the mandatory reports (n=139) sent by a Paris adolescent psychiatry department between 2005 and 2021 after patients disclosed previous sexual abuse. R® (3.6.1) and RStudio® (1.2.5001) software were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Girls accounted for almost all the adolescents who disclosed (95.7%). First abuse occurred around the age of 12 years and was first disclosed to a health professional a mean of 3.5 years later; 66 (47.5%) patients were admitted for inpatient care during their follow-up. The most common diagnoses were depression, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorders, and other anxiety disorders. Before disclosing to a health professional, most of these adolescents had already talked about it, mainly to a family member (69.8%) or peers (24.7%).

CONCLUSION

This is the first study in France on the reporting of sexual abuse after its disclosure by adolescents being treated in a psychiatry unit. Our results show that child sexual abuse is rarely reported and that health care professionals are far from being the first recipients of these disclosures. We recommend routine screening for sexual abuse in adolescent psychiatry units, improved training for staff receiving these disclosures, and consideration of how best to coordinate medical, social, and legal services for these adolescents.

Hierarchy of demographic and social determinants of mental health: analysis of cross-sectional survey data from the Global Mind Project

OBJECTIVES

To understand the extent to which various demographic and social determinants predict mental health status and their relative hierarchy of predictive power in order to prioritise and develop population-based preventative approaches.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of survey data.

SETTING

Internet-based survey from 32 countries across North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Australia, collected between April 2020 and December 2021.

PARTICIPANTS

270 000 adults aged 18-85+ years who participated in the Global Mind Project.

OUTCOME MEASURES

We used 120+ demographic and social determinants to predict aggregate mental health status and scores of individuals (mental health quotient (MHQ)) and determine their relative predictive influence using various machine learning models including gradient boosting and random forest classification for various demographic stratifications by age, gender, geographical region and language. Outcomes reported include model performance metrics of accuracy, precision, recall, F1 scores and importance of individual factors determined by reduction in the squared error attributable to that factor.

RESULTS

Across all demographic classification models, 80% of those with negative MHQs were correctly identified, while regression models predicted specific MHQ scores within ±15% of the position on the scale. Predictions were higher for older ages (0.9+ accuracy, 0.9+ F1 Score; 65+ years) and poorer for younger ages (0.68 accuracy, 0.68 F1 Score; 18-24 years). Across all age groups, genders, regions and language groups, lack of social interaction and sufficient sleep were several times more important than all other factors. For younger ages (18-24 years), other highly predictive factors included cyberbullying and sexual abuse while not being able to work was high for ages 45-54 years.

CONCLUSION

Social determinants of traumas, adversities and lifestyle can account for 60%-90% of mental health challenges. However, additional factors are at play, particularly for younger ages, that are not included in these data and need further investigation.

Childhood maltreatment and psychopathy in Chinese juvenile offenders: person-centered perspective

BACKGROUND

Childhood maltreatment stands as a salient risk factor in the etiology of juvenile delinquency, with a profound impact on the behavioral trajectories of young offenders. However, there is limited research on latent profile analysis to explore distinctive patterns of childhood maltreatment in Chinese juvenile offenders. Consequently, there is a lack of understanding regarding the associations between maltreatment profiles and relevant variables in this context. The present study aimed to explore meaningful subgroups of childhood maltreatment in juvenile offenders, and we further examined the associations between subgroups and multiple outcomes especially psychopathy.

METHODS

The data was obtained from a sample of Chinese juvenile offenders (N = 625, M age = 17.22, SD = 1.23). This study employed a latent profile analysis (LPA) based on factor scores of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form to identify the subgroups and examined the differences across subgroups using outcomes variables including psychopathy, callous-unemotional traits, aggression and anxiety. This study includes three self-report measures to evaluate psychopathy, with due regard for the nuanced considerations on the factor structure inherent in the conceptualization of psychopathy.

RESULTS

Two subgroups were identified, including the non-maltreatment subgroup (80.2%) and the maltreatment subgroup (19.8%). Maltreatment subgroup was characterized by a greater level of all types of maltreatment with particularly higher of emotion neglect. Besides, we found that maltreatment subgroup showed a significantly higher level of psychopathy across multiple self-report measures, and greater callous-unemotional traits, lack of empathy, aggression and anxiety. We found two subgroups of child maltreatment in Chinese juvenile offenders.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may provide a further understanding of childhood maltreatment and the clinical intervention on psychopathy in the early period.

The self-perceived impact of sexual abuse on daily life and general health - an issue to consider in dental care

BACKGROUND/AIM

To analyse, from the perspective of adults with a history of sexual abuse, the impact of the experience on their general health and well-being.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The participants comprised 12 strategically selected informants (10 women), aged 19-56; all sexually abused during child- and/or adulthood. They were interviewed in-depth and encouraged to describe the impact of the sexual abuse on their daily lives. The consequences of sexual abuse on oral health have previously been reported. The interviews were recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim and analysed according to qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach.

RESULTS

The overall theme illustrating the latent content was Sexual abuse experience-limiting long-term consequences, always present in body and mind. The first category covering the manifest content was 'A lost foothold', with two subcategories: (i) emotional repercussions and (ii) physical health repercussions. The second category was 'The significance of distance to trauma', with two subcategories (i) keeping a distance and tending to escape and (ii) processing the trauma experience-a struggle towards balance.

CONCLUSIONS

A history of sexual abuse cannot be understood in isolation: the long-term repercussions pervade daily life. However, after disclosure of the abuse and processing the trauma, it is possible to ameliorate some of the negative effects. In this context, the dental setting emerges as a potentially important venue for disclosure as almost every person, sooner or later, visits the dentist.

The Association between Women's History of Sexual Abuse, Mental Health, and Sexual Motivations in Committed Intimate Relationships

In committed intimate relationships, motivations for engaging in or avoiding sexual relations can indicate partners' perceptions, needs, and attitudes toward sexual intimacy, and reflect sexual functioning. Sexual motivations can be positive, reflecting and advancing relational goals, such as establishing and maintaining closeness between partners and pleasure, or negative, stemming out of fear of one's partner, pleasing them, or depriving sexual contact to punish the partner or establish relational power. In this study, we extended the current conceptualization and assessment of negative sexual motivations to explore the associations between women's history of sexual abuse, their mental health, and their negative sexual motivations. Structural equation modeling results from 236 adult Israeli women who were in committed intimate relationships indicated that a woman's history of sexual abuse negatively predicted her mental health which, in turn, negatively predicted her negative sexual motivations. Mental health mediated the association between a woman's history of sexual abuse and her negative sexual motivations. These findings have theoretical and empirical contributions to research in terms of the short- and long-term effects of sexual abuse on women, mental health, and women's sexuality. Their clinical implications for mental health professionals, sexual therapists, and clinicians working with women who experience sexual abuse are also discussed.

Sexual victimisation, peer victimisation, and mental health outcomes among adolescents in Burkina Faso: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Sexual victimisation and peer victimisation are pervasive and increase risk for mental illness. Longitudinal studies that compare their unique and cumulative effects are scarce and have been done predominantly in high-income countries. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence, prospective associations, and gender differences in sexual and peer victimisation and mental health in a low-income, African setting.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, data were obtained from the 2017 ARISE Adolescent Health Study, a population-representative, two-wave, prospective study of adolescents (aged 12-20 years) from Burkina Faso. A random sample of adolescents was drawn from ten villages, selected to capture the five main ethnic groups, and from one of the seven sectors of Nouna town, Burkina Faso, at two timepoints: Nov 12 to Dec 27, 2017, and Nov 15 to Dec 20, 2018. Standardised interviews were conducted in French or a local language by trained researchers. We measured victimisation exposure as sexual victimisation, peer victimisation, and polyvictimisation, using lifetime frequency of exposure, and we measured mental health symptoms and disorders using the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale, the Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder screen IV and 5, and a question on lifetime self-harm and number of incidents in the past year. We calculated prevalence of victimisation and mental health symptoms and disorders at the two timepoints, and we used lifetime victimisation at the first timepoint to predict mental health at the second timepoint using logistic and negative binomial regressions. Gender differences were examined using interaction terms.

FINDINGS

Of 2544 eligible adolescents, 1644 participated at time 1 and 1291 participated at time 2. The final sample with data at both timepoints included 1160 adolescents aged 12-20 years (mean 15·1, SE 0·2), of whom 469 (40·4%) were girls and 691 (59·6%) were boys. The majority ethnic group was Dafin (626 [39·1%]), followed by Bwaba (327 [20·5%]), Mossi (289 [16·0%]), Samo (206 [13·0%]), Peulh (166 [9·7%]), and other (30 [1·6%]). After survey weight adjustment, sexual victimisation (weighted percentages, time 1, 256 [13·8%] of 1620; time 2, 93 [7·2%] of 1264) and peer victimisation (weighted percentages, time 1, 453 [29·9%] of 1620; time 2, 272 [21·9%] of 1264) were common, whereas polyvictimisation was more rare (weighted percentages, time 1, 116 [6·6%] of 1620; time 2, 76 [5·7%] of 1264). Longitudinally, sexual victimisation was associated with probable clinical disorder (adjusted odds ratio 2·59, 95% CI 1·15-5·84), depressive symptoms (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1·39, 95% CI 1·12-1·72), and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (aIRR 2·34, 1·31-4·16). Peer victimisation was associated with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (aIRR 1·89, 1·13-3·17) and polyvictimisation was associated with depressive symptoms (aIRR 1·34, 1·01-1·77). Girls reported more sexual victimisation (weighted percentages, 130 [17·3%] of 681 vs 126 [11·4%] of 939), boys reported more peer victimisation (weighted percentages, 290 [33·1%] of 939 vs 163 [25·2%] of 681), and there was a significant interaction between lifetime victimisation and gender for probable clinical disorder (F [degrees of freedom 7, sample 376] 2·16; p=0·030).

INTERPRETATION

Sexual and peer victimisation were common in the study setting and increased risk for mental health problems. Adolescent girls who have been sexually victimised are especially at risk of mental health problems. Interventions targeting sexual and peer violence in low-income settings are needed.

FUNDING

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, Fondation Botnar, and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

Social Reactions to Disclosure of Sexual Violence Experienced by Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults: Comparisons of Sexual and Gender Minority Recipients Versus Cisgender/Heterosexual Recipients

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals are at an increased risk of experiencing sexual violence (SV). Social reactions received upon disclosure of SV impact survivors' mental health, and this may be more extreme when social reactions are provided by other SGM individuals. The purpose of the current study was to understand the SV disclosure experiences of SGM young adults, including the identity of disclosure recipients and the quality of the social reactions received by SGM and cisgender/heterosexual disclosure recipients. Additionally, the current study sought to examine how the SGM identity of the disclosure recipient and the quality of the social reactions received were associated with mental health outcomes (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and alcohol use) among SGM SV survivors. SGM-identifying participants (N = 110) completed a 10-min survey on Qualtrics that was distributed through Prime Panels. Results revealed that 83% of participants (SGM survivors of SV) disclosed their SV experience to other SGM individuals. SGM disclosure recipients provided more positive social reactions and fewer negative social reactions than cisgender/heterosexual disclosure recipients. Regression models indicated that positive social reactions from cisgender/heterosexual recipients were associated with a decrease in depression scores. Negative social reactions from SGM recipients were associated with an increase in depression scores. Unexpectedly, positive social reactions from SGM recipients, while negative social reactions from cisgender/heterosexual recipients, were associated with an increase in PTSD scores. No associations were found between social reactions and alcohol use. Findings highlight the importance of social reactions and disclosure experiences on SGM survivors' mental health and mitigation opportunities to improve these disclosure experiences.

Childhood trauma and outcome trajectories in patients with longstanding eating disorders across 17 years

BACKGROUND

A large proportion of patients with eating disorders (ED) report experiences of childhood trauma. Latent trajectory analysis in ED samples reveals the complexities in course and outcome and can explore the long-term impact of adverse experiences in childhood.

METHOD

A total of 84 patients with longstanding ED were included. ED symptoms were assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination interview at discharge from inpatient treatment, and at 1-, 2-, 5-, and 17-year follow-up, respectively. Change over time was examined using growth mixture modeling, allowing the number of trajectories to emerge through the data. Prevalence of childhood trauma was assessed, and its relation to class membership was tested.

RESULTS

We identified four distinct classes: patients with (a) a continuous improvement in the entire follow-up period, and scores within normal range at the end, "continuous improvement" (54.8%); (b) a high symptom level at baseline and moderate decrease over time, "high and declining" (22.6%); (c) initial ED scores below clinical cut-off and stable symptoms throughout the course, "consistently low" (14.3%); and (d) with high scores initially, and a significant increase in symptoms over time, "high and increasing" (8.3%). A history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was overrepresented in classes with persistently high symptom levels and poor long-term outcome DISCUSSION: Patients with longstanding ED displayed considerable diversity in trajectories of symptom change across 17 years. To improve long-term outcome, enhanced treatment of sequelae from CSA seems essential.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

Patients with longstanding eating disorders displayed four different trajectories of change in a 17-year follow-up study. Although there were significant changes over time, the majority of patients remained within similar symptom levels as they presented with at discharge from inpatient treatment. Exposure to childhood maltreatment was common within the sample. Childhood sexual abuse predicted poor long-term outcome, which highlights the importance of trauma informed care.

Risk factors for sexual harassment and abuse victimization among adolescent athletes and non-athletes: A one-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

The association between SHA and negative mental health increases the need to understand risk factors for SHA victimization, which is important for future development of prevention programs.

OBJECTIVE

To examine which combinations of demographic- and mental health factors were associated with subsequent SHA victimization, and the prevalence of elite athletes, recreational athletes, and reference students who experienced sexual revictimization.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Norwegian elite athletes and recreational athletes attending sport high schools, and reference students attending non-sport high schools (mean age: 17.1 years) were eligible for participation.

METHODS

The participants answered an online questionnaire at two measurement points one year apart, T1 and T2 (n = 1139, 51.1 % girls). After testing for measurement invariance, data were analyzed with Classification and Regression Tree analysis (CRT) using demographic- and mental health variables from T1 as independent variables, and SHA at T2 as outcome.

RESULTS

The combination of being a girl with high level of symptoms of eating disorders and other psychological symptoms was associated with subsequent reporting of SHA. Among the students with lifetime experience of SHA at T1 (n = 533, 58.3 %), 49.5 % reported revictimization at T2 (60.9 % girls, 32.2 % boys, p ≤ .001). The prevalence of SHA revictimization was lower among elite athletes (44.3 %) compared with recreational athletes (49.1 %) and reference students (59.4 %, p = .019).

CONCLUSION

The combination of female gender and mental health symptoms are risk factors for subsequent SHA victimization. These findings, and the high prevalence of SHA revictimization is important knowledge for developing preventive programs targeting elite athletes, recreational athletes, and reference students.

Male Sexual Victimization by Women: Incidence Rates, Mental Health, and Conformity to Gender Norms in a Sample of British Men

Male sexual victimization by women is often neglected within psychological research (Fisher & Pina, 2013). Not only is the topic understudied, incidence rates and associated psychological impacts are inconsistent across the literature (Depraetere et al., 2020; Peterson et al., 2011). The present study provides an additional estimate of male sexual victimization by women, explores its association with victim mental disorders, and examines the potential moderating role of conformity to gender norms. A sample of 1124 heterosexual British men completed an online survey consisting of a modified CDC National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, and measures of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and conformity to masculine norms. In the present sample, 71% of men experienced some form of sexual victimization by a woman at least once during their lifetime. Sexual victimization was significantly associated with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, conformity to masculine gender norms was not a significant moderator between victimization and mental disorders. These findings further illuminate the occurrence of male sexual victimization by women, as well as the importance of continued research on the topic.

Early Risk Factors for Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviours: A UK Population-Based Study of 219,581 People

Mental disorders are a major problem among young people. To identify early risk factors of self-injurious thoughts and behaviours (SITB) among young adults with mental health problems, this case-control study drew data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), a primary care database covering 8% of the UK population. We explored the role of early factors (presenting at 8-14 years old) for suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in young adulthood (age 18-25 years) by performing logistic regressions. Our sample consisted of 219,581 participants, of which 6.51% had at least one SITB in young adulthood. Early risk factors for SITB included early NSSI, suicidal ideation, sexual abuse, behavioural problems, and mood and psychotic symptoms. Frequency of GP visits had a protective effect. Lack of access to mortality data, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status was a limitation of the current study. In conclusion, early symptoms in late childhood/early adolescence can be the start of long-standing problems going into adult life. The training of primary care providers in suicide risk assessment and proper co-ordination with child and adolescent mental health services are crucial for suicide prevention.

What are the predictive variables that increase the risk of developing a complex trauma? A meta-analysis

In 2018, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) was officially recognized as a distinct syndrome in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11). This recognition aimed to differentiate between neurotic disorders secondary to stressful situations and somatoform disorders, and disorders specifically associated with stress. The inclusion of CPTSD in the ICD-11 marked the culmination of two decades of research focused on understanding its symptoms, treatments, and risk factors. However, despite the progress made, a comprehensive meta-analysis to elucidate the specific risk factors and impact on the development of CPTSD is still lacking. The objective of this article is to conduct such a meta-analysis. A total of 24 studies were selected for analysis, and the findings revealed several key risk factors associated with the development of CPTSD. The main risk factor identified is having experienced sexual abuse in childhood (k = 12; OR = 2.880). In addition, childhood physical abuse (k = 11; OR = 2.841), experiencing emotional neglect during childhood (k = 5; OR = 2.510), physical abuse throughout life (k = 8; OR = 2.149) and being a woman (k = 13; OR = 1.726) were also significant risk factors.

How parents experience their adolescent's disclosure of previous sexual abuse: a qualitative study

INTRODUCTION

Parents whom adolescents disclose sexual abuse face both a personal traumatic experience, and the need to support their child who is going through a grueling period and needs them. Many quantitative studies exploring the psychological impact of disclosure on parents have been conducted, but few have used qualitative methods. The objective of this study is to explore parents' experiences of their adolescent's disclosure of sexual abuse during psychiatric care, identify the possible beneficial factors and shortcomings, share this knowledge, and improve interventions for these families.

METHODS

We conducted semi structured interviews with parents whose children disclosed sexual abuse during their psychiatric care in Paris and analyzed these interviews using a phenomenological framework (interpretative phenomenological analysis).

RESULTS

This study analyzed 13 semi structured interviews of 9 mothers and 4 fathers whose children were then aged 14 to 17 years. Qualitative analysis uncovered three themes: (1) Parents: alerts and search for support; (2) Between parents and adolescents: a disruption in relationships linked to the disclosure and its legal consequences; (3) Disclosure at the family level: the possible reactivation of a traumatic past and the search for a new equilibrium.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the parental experience is essential in caring for adolescent patients after they disclose sexual abuse. The need for parental or family psychological support should be systematically assessed. Possible resurgence of parental trauma requires psychiatrists' careful consideration.

Non-offending caregivers reflections on the use of a film encompassing child sexual abuse perpetrator's testimonies for potential child protection initiatives in South Africa

BACKGROUND

Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a challenge in South Africa, despite various legislative developments to address child abuse. Despite non-offending caregivers (NOC) playing a critical role in child safeguarding, and supporting disclosure and recovery, very little research has focused on understanding what works in assisting them in supporting child victims in South Africa.

OBJECTIVES

The study examines the exposure of NOC who watched a short film based on the testimonies of four CSA perpetrators in therapy, with a view to exploring whether this film could be useful for CSA prevention, disclosure and support initiatives.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A convenience sample of eight NOC attending a community support service in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

METHODS

After viewing the film, the NOC completed a questionnaire, and were asked to discuss usefulness of film content based on perpetrator testimonials in sensitizing NOC around disclosure of sexual abuse and support of the child. Thematic data analysis combined their perceptions of sexual abuse experienced by their children/grandchildren and the effect that content of the film had on their perceptions.

RESULTS

Five themes emerged; Awareness of CSA and available child protection programs; Views toward CSA disclosure; Emotive responses; Lessons learnt for identification of CSA and child protection; and Recommendations for future programs.

CONCLUSIONS

The process of viewing and discussing the film stimulated a shift for NOC to identify risk, facilitate disclosure of CSA, and become more supportive toward child victims. The study highlights the potential of using film to guide NOC targeted child protection and safeguarding initiatives.

Impacts of repeated retrieval of positive and neutral memories on posttrauma health: An investigative pilot study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Evidence indicates that positive memory processes play a role in the etiology and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and related posttrauma health indicators. To extend this research, the current pilot study examined if repeated retrieval of positive vs. neutral memories was associated with (1) less PTSS and depression severity; and (2) improved affect and cognitions (fewer posttrauma cognitions, more positively-valenced affect, less negatively-valenced affect, less negative affect interference, less anhedonia, retrieval of more positive specific memories, retrieval of fewer negative specific memories).

METHODS

Twenty-five trauma-exposed participants were randomly assigned to a positive or neutral memory task condition. They participated in four weekly experimental sessions facilitated by an experimenter virtually; each consecutive session was separated by 6-8 days. We conducted mixed between-within subjects ANOVAs to examine study hypotheses.

RESULTS

No interaction effects were significant. There were significant main effects of time on PTSS and depression severity, posttrauma cognitions, positively-valenced and negatively-valenced affect, and negative affect interference.

LIMITATIONS

We used self-report measures, small and non-clinical sample with limited demographic diversity, and virtual format; did not record memory narratives; and did not have a trauma memory condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on pilot data, our findings suggest that individuals who retrieve positive or neutral memories repeatedly may report less PTSS and depression severity, fewer posttrauma cognitions, and improved affect. Results provide an impetus to examine impacts of and mechanisms underlying memory interventions (beyond a sole focus on negatively-valenced memories) in trauma work.

The Connection Between Sex as Self-Injury and Sexual Violence

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a suggested diagnosis recognized by DSM-5 as in need of further research. Recent studies conclude that sex as self-injury (SASI) and NSSI share similar functions, such as being used as emotional regulation. SASI has been associated with earlier sexual abuse, but the understanding of the association between sexual violence and SASI is still limited. The aim of this study was to further investigate the connection between sexual violence and the experience of SASI. How could SASI be related to sexual violence? The study used a qualitative design and was based on an anonymous questionnaire published on the websites of Swedish NGOs, providing help and support to women and youths, such as those in women's shelters. In total, 139 informants with a mean age of 27.9 years (range 15-64 years) were included in the study. Three main themes were found: (1) Normalization of sexual violence and a shift in boundaries could be seen as consequences of earlier experiences of sexual violence leading to SASI; (2) SASI could escalate into sexual violence through increased need of emotional regulation, increased risk-taking, and risk of victimization; (3) SASI could be used to regain control of re-experiences, the body, sexuality, and shame after sexual abuse. In conclusion, a complex connection was identified whereby SASI could escalate into sexual violence, and earlier experiences of sexual violence could lead to SASI in a vicious loop. Hence, SASI should be seen as a risk factor for further victimization and sexual abuse.

Prevention of child sexual abuse in the USA: a scoping review protocol of US legislative policies

INTRODUCTION

Child sexual abuse (CSA) poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of children in the USA and globally. Many states have introduced or implemented policies to address and prevent CSA, but little research has linked the effects of this legislation on the reduction of adult-perpetrated CSA. The objective of this scoping review is to identify US policies which aim to prevent CSA, explain the components of these types of legislation, review evidence of effectiveness, describe the populations included in the literature, and identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of said policies.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This scoping review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and will use the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. Sources of peer-reviewed evidence from January 2000 to July 2023 will be included. Relevant publications will first be searched in PubMed/MEDLINE database, then 25 other databases. The reference lists of included studies and high-yield journals will be hand searched. Articles which focus on the types of CSA prevention policies and their effects will be included. Studies must clearly demonstrate a connection between policies and CSA outcomes. Title, abstract, full-text screening and extraction will be completed by a team of three researchers. Critical appraisal of the included studies will be performed. Extracted data will be displayed in tabular form and a narrative summary will describe the results of the review.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This scoping review will provide an extensive overview of legislative policies which aim to prevent CSA in the USA. Results of this review will inform future CSA prevention policies in the USA, particularly regarding policy development, evaluation and implementation. Results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication.

Sexual workplace violence in the health sector in Saudi Arabia: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Sexual workplace violence occurs worldwide with increasing prevalence, causing psychological and physical injuries. However, only few reports from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have investigated the most involved health specialty and its association with other factors, such as working and sociodemographic conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of workplace sexual violence over 12 months, from May 2018 to May 2019, circumstances related to the event, and consequences for the perpetrator and survivor and to identify associated factors among all healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included all HCWs registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties who worked for > 1 year in the health sector (government or private) in Saudi Arabia until May 2019. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was used. A modified self-administered questionnaire sent via email was utilized to assess workplace violence. Descriptive statistics were used to report percentages and frequencies, while advanced statistics, such as bivariate analysis, were used to determine associations. Multivariate logistic binary regression analysis was used to assess the combined and individual associations between relevant predictors of exposure of HCWs to recent sexual violence at the workplace.

RESULTS

In total, 7,398 (male, 51.3%; female, 48.7%) HCWs were electively enrolled in the study (mean age 40 ± 8.62 years). Most were non-Saudi (60%). Overall, 3.9% were sexual violence survivors. Approximately 60.7%, 51.4%, 48.3%, and 65.9% of female workers, nurses, Saudi natives, and night shift workers (18:00 to 07:00), respectively, were significantly exposed to sexual violence. Furthermore, approximately 54.8% of those with direct physical contact with patients had a higher rate of exposure to sexual harassment (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of sexual violence is low but remains a risk to HCWs, especially those working night shifts and having direct physical contact with patients. Thus, more support, specific strategies, and policies are needed to reduce the rate of occurrence, protect HCWs, and prevent such events. The underreporting of cases may be skewing the magnitude of the problem; thus, more education and additional research in Saudi Arabia are needed regarding sexual violence experienced by HCWs.

The Relationship Between Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Dysfunction in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been recognized as a risk factor for sexual dysfunction and has attracted increasing attention. However, controversies remain regarding related research. The aim is to calculate the pooled effect size estimate for the correlation between CSA and sexual dysfunction in adults by meta-analysis. Five bibliographic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO) were comprehensively searched to clarify the association between CSA and sexual dysfunction in adults. We used a fixed-effects model to determine the total pooled effect size estimate and reported odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis, publication bias analysis, and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Adults who had a history of CSA experienced a higher proportion of sexual dysfunction than adults with no history of CSA (OR = 1.68, 95% CI [1.49, 1.87]). Subgroup analysis showed that women with a history of CSA reported a higher proportion of sexual dysfunction than men with a history of CSA (men: OR = 1.45, 95% CI [1.05, 1.84]; women: OR = 1.62, 95% CI [1.42, 1.83]). The estimates of the effect sizes differed substantially depending on the CSA and sexual dysfunction instruments that were used in each study and the region of each sample. This meta-analysis provides conclusive evidence of an association between CSA and sexual dysfunction in adults. Currently known interventions for the treatment of sexual dysfunction after CSA have only been evaluated in women, so specific interventions should be designed for men CSA survivors who experience sexual impairment.

Understanding posttraumatic stress trajectories in adolescent females: A strength-based machine learning approach examining risk and protective factors including online behaviors

Heterogeneity in the course of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) following a major life trauma such as childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can be attributed to numerous contextual factors, psychosocial risk, and family/peer support. The present study investigates a comprehensive set of baseline psychosocial risk and protective factors including online behaviors predicting empirically derived PTSS trajectories over time. Females aged 12-16 years (N = 440); 156 with substantiated CSA; 284 matched comparisons with various self-reported potentially traumatic events (PTEs) were assessed at baseline and then annually for 2 subsequent years. Latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM) was used to derive PTSS trajectories, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression was used to investigate psychosocial predictors including online behaviors of trajectories. LGMM revealed four PTSS trajectories: resilient (52.1%), emerging (9.3%), recovering (19.3%), and chronic (19.4%). Of the 23 predictors considered, nine were retained in the LASSO model discriminating resilient versus chronic trajectories including the absence of CSA and other PTEs, low incidences of exposure to sexual content online, minority ethnicity status, and the presence of additional psychosocial protective factors. Results provide insights into possible intervention targets to promote resilience in adolescence following PTEs.

Improving teamwork in multidisciplinary cross-sector teams: Adaption and pilot testing of a team training for Child Advocacy Center teams

Background

Effective teamwork is critical to the mission of Child Advocacy Center (CAC) multidisciplinary teams. Team interventions designed to fit the unique cross-organizational context of CAC teams may improve teamwork in CACs.

Methods

A collaborative, community-engaged approach was used to adapt TeamSTEPPS, an evidence-based team training for healthcare, for CAC multidisciplinary teams. The adapted training was piloted with one team and evaluated using mixed methods. Team members completed pre-training (n = 26) and follow-up surveys (n = 22) and participated in qualitative interviews (n = 9).

Results

The adaptation process resulted in the creation of TeamTRACS (Team Training in Roles, Awareness, Communication, and Support). Participants rated TeamTRACS as highly acceptable, appropriate, feasible, relevant, and useful for CAC teams. They identified positive and negative aspects of the training, ideas for improvement, and future uses for TeamTRACS.

Conclusions

TeamTRACS is a feasible approach to team training in CACs, and team members find the content and skills relevant and useful. Additional research is needed to test the effectiveness of TeamTRACS and identify appropriate implementation strategies to support its use.

Experiences of Online Sexual Violence: Interviews With Swedish Teenage Girls in Psychiatric Care

Research about online sexual violence (OSV) is needed to be able to better meet the needs of girls in psychiatric care. The objectives of this study are to explore experiences of online sexual violence among young female psychiatric service users. Interviews with nine girls with psychiatric care needs were analyzed with thematic analysis. The findings are summarized in four themes which contribute to the notion that online sexual violence is only one, albeit important, part of a more complex picture of violence among young girls in psychiatric care. The girls' narratives are shaped by, as well as reproducing gender norms.

Systematic review of prospective studies assessing risk factors to predict anorexia nervosa onset

BACKGROUND

According to case‒control studies, a multitude of factors contribute to the emergence of anorexia nervosa (AN). The present systematic review examines prospective studies specifically designed to evaluate the prediction of AN onset.

METHODS

According to the ARMSTAR 2 and PRISMA 2020 checklists, the PubMed, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases were searched. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed with the Downs and Black checklist.

RESULTS

Three articles concerning prospective studies of the general population were ultimately included in the review. The methodological quality of these studies was not optimal. Bidirectional amplification effects were observed between risk factors, some of which could have a relative predictive force as low bodyweight or body dissatisfaction. Even if not included according to specified criteria for this systematic review 11 longitudinal studies, with retrospective analysis of AN onset' prediction, were also discussed. None of these studies asserted the predictive value of particular risk factors as low body weight, anxiety disorders or childhood aggression.

CONCLUSIONS

To date there are insufficient established data to propose predictive markers of AN onset for predictive actions in pre-adolescent or adolescent populations. Future work should further evaluate potential risk factors previously identified in case‒control/retrospective studies within larger prospective investigations in preadolescent populations. It is important to clearly distinguish predisposing factors from precipitating factors in subjects at risk of developing AN.

Emerging role of the host microbiome in neuropsychiatric disorders: overview and future directions

The human body harbors a diverse ecosystem of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, collectively known as the microbiota. Current research is increasingly focusing on the potential association between the microbiota and various neuropsychiatric disorders. The microbiota resides in various parts of the body, such as the oral cavity, nasal passages, lungs, gut, skin, bladder, and vagina. The gut microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract has received particular attention due to its high abundance and its potential role in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. However, the microbiota presents in other body tissues, though less abundant, also plays crucial role in immune system and human homeostasis, thus influencing the development and progression of neuropsychiatric disorders. For example, oral microbiota imbalance and associated periodontitis might increase the risk for neuropsychiatric disorders. Additionally, studies using the postmortem brain samples have detected the widespread presence of oral bacteria in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. This article provides an overview of the emerging role of the host microbiota in neuropsychiatric disorders and discusses future directions, such as underlying biological mechanisms, reliable biomarkers associated with the host microbiota, and microbiota-targeted interventions, for research in this field.

Indicators of Eating Disorders in Sexually Abused Brazilian Adolescents: Family and School Contexts

Eating disorders, characterized by abnormal eating behaviors, are among a wide variety of psychiatric conditions that mainly affect children and adolescents. These disorders have a multifactorial origin and can be associated with restrictive diets, negative feelings, harmful family relationships, and post-traumatic stress. Thus, this study's objective was to evaluate the association between indicators of eating disorders and family and school contexts in Brazilian adolescents who previously experienced sexual abuse and examine the findings based on sex. National School Health Survey data were utilized. Among 102,301 students between 11 and 19 years of age, 4124 reported having experienced sexual abuse and were included in this study. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess participants' health status and the presence of risk behaviors, which were examined through multivariate analysis using a Poisson regression model. The results indicated positive relationships between self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, and other purgative methods and infrequent meals with family, hunger, and the presence of violence in students' daily lives, regardless of sex (p < 0.05). In addition, body dissatisfaction and negative feelings about one's body were associated with having been bullied or teased by schoolmates for both sexes (p < 0.05). Distant relationships with parents were associated with purgative methods and body dissatisfaction among female students (p < 0.05). In conclusion, body dissatisfaction, negative feelings about one's body, laxative misuse, self-induced vomiting, and purgative methods were found to be associated with factors in family and school contexts such as hunger, infrequent meals with family, family violence, distant relationships with parents, and bullying at school in adolescents who have previously experienced sexual abuse.

Assessment of Child Sexual Abuse in Victimized Women

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a frequent phenomenon, and women who report it are at a higher risk of mental disorders and sexual dysfunction. The application of a brief questionnaire could help gynecologists assessment of CSA history in women. This study was carried out including women (n = 593) who had been victims of CSA before the age of 18 years. We used the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETISR-SF) Part 4, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and a semi-structured instrument to assess CSA. Among the 593 women included, 77 agreed to answer the questionnaires, 62(80.5%) had traumatic sexual events, 53(68.8%) had a total FSFI score ≤ 26.55, and 64(84.2%) considered themselves victims of CSA. There was an association regarding the belief that CSA influenced their sex life and their being at risk for GAD (p = 0.001), PTSD (p = 0.02), and sexual abuse by a family member (p = 0.01). The risk factors were the presence of risk for GAD (OR = 5.88[1.3-27.03]) and CSA by a family member (OR = 5.78[1.57-21.28]). This methodology can assist gynecologists in assessing a patient's history of CSA.

Characteristics and Factors Associated With Age and Gender Among Peruvian Children and Adolescents Who Are Victims of Sexual Violence

Objectives. To identify the characteristics and factors associated with the gender and age of victims and aggressors. Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations. Linear regression and Poisson regression were used to determine β coefficients and prevalence ratios (PR) between general characteristics and victim gender and age. Results. A total of 6929 records were analyzed. Factors associated with victim gender included urban area of residence (P < .001), alcohol consumption (P < .001). Factors associated with older victim age were being female (β = 3.08) and not being related to the aggressor (β = 1.73). Aggressors were older if they were the father (β = 7.58) or stepfather (β = 5.08), and if the rape had occurred previously (β = 6.11). Conclusions. There are factors directly associated with the gender and age of the victim. Strategies to prevent sexual assaults, especially within the family context, should be strengthened.

A Systematic Review Exploring Variables Related to Bystander Intervention in Sexual Violence Contexts

This article presents a systematic review of the available literature which has investigated the role of key variables in facilitating or inhibiting bystander intervention (including direct intervention, tertiary and secondary prevention) in sexual violence (SV) contexts. Studies exploring the role of individual, situational and contextual variables were grouped to provide a narrative overview of bystanders' personal characteristics as well as the immediate and wider contexts which may be influencing their bystander behaviour. A systematic search of published literature from four electronic databases identified 2526 articles that were screened, of which 85 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies focused upon the role of individual variables, in particular gender of bystander. This body of work finds females are more likely to intervene than males; however, not all studies report these differences and in some cases, this is influenced by the type of intervention behaviour being considered. Regarding situational variables, the most commonly researched variable was the presence of other bystanders, although the role of this variable as inhibiting or facilitating was not clear. Finally, the most commonly researched contextual variable was social norms towards intervention, which has consistently shown greater bystander intervention when there is a belief that peers support such behaviour. Very few studies considered the interaction between these variables. Therefore, it is important for future research to consider this gap in the literature so that we can obtain a more well-rounded understanding of variables that can inhibit and facilitate bystander intervention in SV contexts.

Traumatic stress symptoms and PTSD risk in children served by Children's Advocacy Centers

Purpose

Children who experience maltreatment are at high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) can facilitate access to treatment following maltreatment allegations. We describe PTSD symptoms and intervention decision-making for children served by CACs.

Methods

Children served by CACs in a single state were screened for PTSD symptoms using a structured mental health screening/referral protocol. CAC staff used an electronic form that provided guidance for decision-making. We examined descriptive statistics for PTSD symptoms and risk and tested associations between child characteristics and symptoms. We described CAC staff's delivery of brief interventions and referral decisions and tested associations with child characteristics and symptoms.

Results

Two thousand and three hundred fifty children completed screening between 2018 and 2020. Almost half (45.5%) exhibited traumatic stress symptoms suggesting high probability of PTSD at the time of their CAC visit. Children who identified as female or transgender male and older children were more likely to be at high risk for PTSD. Brief interventions were delivered to 66% of children, and most were referred to evidence-based trauma treatment (53.1%) or community mental health services (39.0%). Categorization as moderate or high PTSD risk was associated with a higher likelihood of brief intervention delivery and referral to trauma treatment.

Conclusion

Many children served by CACs are likely to meet criteria for PTSD at their initial visit. CAC staff demonstrated the ability to deliver brief interventions and make referrals to mental health treatment. Use of structured screening/referral protocols may improve early identification and treatment access for children experiencing PTSD symptoms.

The Consequences of Child Abuse

This review provides an overview of the consequences of early adverse experiences across various domains of life. Drawing on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) conceptual framework, we discuss the ACE pyramid and the varying degrees of consequences that ACE exposure may elicit. Using online search engines such as Google Scholar, the authors sifted through empirical research to locate relevant articles and research to help prepare this review. This article sheds light on the implications of ACEs for health, socio-emotional and psychosocial well-being, relationships, personality, and cognitive functioning.