Citation

McLeer SV, Deblinger E, Henry D, Orvaschel H. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 1992; 31(5): 875-879.

Affiliation

Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical College of Pennsylvania/Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, Philadelphia 19129.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1400120

Abstract

Ninety-two sexually abused children were studied using structured interviews and standardized instruments to determine the frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated symptoms. Of these sexually abused children, 43.9% met DSM-III-R PTSD criteria; 53.8% of children abused by fathers, 42.4% abused by trusted adults, and 10% of those abused by strangers met criteria as opposed to none of the children abused by an older child. No relationship was observed between the time lapsed since last abusive episode and the presence of PTSD. Many children not meeting full criteria exhibited partial PTSD symptoms. Only one standardized instrument (Child Behavior Checklist) detected group differences with PTSD children exhibiting more symptoms. This study replicates an earlier pilot study and underscores the need for further PTSD research.

Language: en