NCJ Number
175070
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: 1998 Pages: 17-45
Date Published
1998
Length
29 pages
Annotation
Thirty-three empirical studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors of childhood sexual abuse with or without physical abuse were reviewed with respect to symptoms, the definition and measurement of both forms of abuse, assessment of PTSD, and additional aspects of experimental design.
Abstract
The analysis also focused on the importance of the empirical analysis of the relationship between the severity and duration of trauma and the level of PTSD symptoms. The review also explored the usefulness of using a multiple-trauma perspective in understanding the impact of stressful life events across the life span. Findings indicated that the PTSD prevalence rate is 40-50 percent for help-seeking sexually abused children. Firm conclusions regarding the prevalence of PTSD in adults molested as children are not possible due to limitations in research design. Existing research also suggests a particularly high rate of childhood physical abuse in survivors of childhood sexual abuse. However, future studies of PTSD in childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, and dual abuse need to use standard definitions and measures. 74 references