Citation

Pillay AL, van der Veen MB. S. Afr. Med. J. 1997; 87(12): 1688-1691.

Affiliation

Sub-department of Medically Applied Psychology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, South African Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9497835

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between sexual abuse disclosure, developmental level and psychopathology in children. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of case records, using chi-square and t-tests for statistical significance. SETTING: Child and Adolescent Unit, Midlands Hospital, Pietermaritzburg. SUBJECTS: One hundred children consecutively admitted for all types of mental health problems. OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnostic evaluations were made using the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edition, revised). RESULTS: Forty of the 100 children had been sexually abused, but 14 (35%) of the abused children did not disclose their abuse until after admission. The post-admission disclosure group had a significantly higher mean age (13.71 years) than the pre-admission disclosure group (10.96 years). Also, significantly more post-admission disclosure children received a diagnosis of major depressive disorder than their pre-admission disclosure counterparts. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the issue of sexual abuse disclosure and its relationship to depression and developmental level. Internal psychological and developmental mechanisms appear to influence the disclosure/non-disclosure of sexual abuse.

Language: en