Citation

Brand EF, King CA, Olson E, Ghaziuddin N, Naylor M. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 1996; 35(1): 34-41.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8567608

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the nature of comorbid psychopathology and suicidality associated with a history of sexual abuse in depressed adolescents. METHOD: Twenty-four depressed adolescent inpatients with a history of sexual abuse were compared with a matched control group of 24 depressed adolescent inpatients on measures of depression, suicidal ideation and behavior, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. RESULTS: Depressed adolescents with a history of sexual abuse had a higher prevalence of comorbid PTSD than did those without such a history. Chronicity and severity of abuse were significant contributors to a PTSD diagnosis. No differences were found in depression severity, specific depressive symptoms, or suicidal behavior. CONCLUSION: Comorbidity of depressive disorders and PTSD are common among adolescent inpatients with a history of chronic sexual abuse. The need for thorough assessment of depression and PTSD with appropriate interventions for sexually abused adolescents is clear.

Language: en