Citation

Lundqvist G, Svedin CG, Hansson K. Nord. J. Psychiatry 2004; 58(1): 25-32.

Affiliation

Psykiatrisk Oppenvard, St. Södergatan 47, Lund, Sweden. gunilla.lundqvist@skane.se

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08039480310000752

PMID

14985151

Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse has been shown to be common among adult women, 15-30% in prevalence studies, and among mentally ill women, 25-77%. These women often suffer from depression, anxiety, sexual and relationship problems. Suicide attempts and self-destructive behaviour are common. Within the Department of Psychiatry at Lund University Hospital, 45 women with experiences of childhood sexual abuse were offered a 2-year-long trauma-focused group therapy. They were well educated but 27% were unemployed. Nearly half of the group had made suicide attempts, 87% had had suicidal thoughts and, according to the questionnaire SCL-90, they were suffering from psychiatric symptoms significantly to a greater degree than both a general group and a clinical group with mixed diagnoses. According to the questionnaire ISSI, they were less well socially integrated than both a general group and a clinical group, and the degree of social adjustment according to the questionnaire SAS-SR was lower than in a general group. The study shows that childhood sexually abused women seeking therapy are a symptom-burdened group. These women probably need psychiatric treatment of a particular character. Special group therapy for these women can potentially improve their health.

Language: en