Citation

Marie-Grimaldi H. Neuropsychiatr. Enfance Adolesc. 2002; 50(3): 193-200.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0222-9617(02)00091-0

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The thesis emphasizes the existence of a link between sexual abuse and physical violence. Groups of individuals were set up; group I included 15 individuals from 7 to 18 years of age, who have been sexually victimized during their childhood, and group II was set up with 14 individuals from 5 up to 18, with no childhood abuse experience. The study of the files of individuals, clinical interviews, psychological tests performed, have allowed the collection of data relating to the nature of sexual abuse and psychopathological troubles. Statistical tests were carried out, and a clinic label illustrates the results obtained. At the end of the research studies, it appears that sexual troubles, physical violence and character disturbances are significantly more important in group I than in the witness group. Concepts such as multiple trauma, deficiency in self-body appropriation, psychic fragmentation, quasi-hallucination positioning, primary identity and active violence have allowed us to specify a qualification of psychotic potentiality where the question of murder of self and other remains central.

This research has been focused on psychopathological troubles of minors who are victims of family sexual abuse, and who have been trusted to Aide Sociale à l’Enfance. The thesis emphasizes the existence of a link between sexual abuse and physical violence. Groups of individuals were set up; group I included 15 individuals from 7 to 18 years of age, who have been sexually victimized during their childhood, and group II was set up with 14 individuals from 5 up to 18, with no childhood abuse experience. The study of the files of individuals, clinical interviews, psychological tests performed, have allowed the collection of data relating to the nature of sexual abuse and psychopathological troubles. Statistical tests were carried out, and a clinic label illustrates the results obtained. At the end of the research studies, it appears that sexual troubles, physical violence and character disturbances are significantly more important in group I than in the witness group. Concepts such as multiple trauma, deficiency in self-body appropriation, psychic fragmentation, quasi-hallucination positioning, primary identity and active violence have allowed us to specify a qualification of psychotic potentiality where the question of murder of self and other remains central.