Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Functional somatic syndromes and childhood physical abuse in women: data from a representative community-based sample
- Authors:
- FULLER-THOMSON Esme, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 20(4), May 2011, pp.445-469.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Functional somatic syndromes have been defined as patterns of somatic symptoms “for which adequate examination does not reveal sufficiently explanatory structural or other specified pathology”. This study explored whether childhood physical abuse was associated with functional somatic syndromes in women while controlling for age, race, and four domains of potentially confounding factors: other childhood adversities; adult health behaviours; socioeconomic status and stressors; and mental health. Data was drawn from a regional sample 7,342 women from of the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey. Women reported whether they had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). Findings revealed that 749 women reported physical abused during their childhood. Also, childhood physical abuse was significantly associated with CFS, FM, and MCS. The authors concluded that clinicians involved in the management of functional somatic syndromes should assess patients for a history of childhood abuse.
Psychopathology of perpetrators of fabricated or induced illness in children: case series
- Authors:
- BASS Christopher, JONES David
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(2), August 2011, pp.113-118.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Munchausen's syndrome by proxy is a rare form of child abuse. However, little is known about the psychopathology of the perpetrators. This paper investigated the medical, psychiatric, social work and forensic records of mothers referred for detailed psychiatric assessment from 1996 to 2009. Participants included 28 individuals with a diagnosis of fabricated or induced illness were referred to the authors for detailed psychiatric assessment. Findings revealed that 57% had evidence of a current somatoform disorder, and factitious disorders were identified in 64%. There was evidence of pathological lying in 61%. A chronic somatoform disorder or factitious disorder was detected in almost two-thirds of the participants. Over half of the mothers exhibited pathological lying, in some dating from adolescence, and this often continued into adult life. The authors concluded that psychiatrists should always be aware of the potential impact of these illnesses on any dependent children.
Classes and consequences of multiple maltreatment: a person-centered analysis
- Authors:
- BERZENSKI Sara R., YATES Tuppett M.
- Journal article citation:
- Child Maltreatment, 16(4), November 2011, pp.250-261.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Most research on the consequences of childhood maltreatment reports differential outcomes of specific maltreatment subtypes such as physical abuse or emotional abuse. However, maltreatment experiences often occur in combination. This study investigated multiple maltreatment experiences in a sample of 2,637 undergraduate students in the US who reported on childhood maltreatment and current adjustment. Findings revealed that specific patterns of multiple maltreatment had different associations. Emotional abuse, alone or in combination with other maltreatment types, was especially noticeable for psychopathology, while a combination of physical and emotional abuse was most strongly associated with conduct-related problems such as substance use or risky sexual behaviour. These findings have both practical and empirical significance for understanding and classifying experiences of maltreatment. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Dissociation in middle childhood among foster children with early maltreatment experiences
- Authors:
- HULETTE Annmarie C., FREYD Jennifer J., FISHER Philip A.
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 35(2), February 2011, pp.123-126.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Noting the definition of dissociation as 'a disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception of the environment', this study examined dissociation in school-aged foster children who had been maltreated in early childhood. The participants in the study included 118 children and their caregivers who were originally part of the Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care-Preschool randomised clinical trial in the United States. The article briefly describes the study and its results. The authors concluded that the findings indicated that gender and number of placement transitions were significant predictors of dissociation and suggested that experiences of early maltreatment and foster care are related to later dissociative symptoms in school-age children, with girls being more susceptible to such symptoms.
The disease burden of childhood adversities in adults: a population-based study
- Authors:
- CUIJPERS Pim, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 35(11), November 2011, pp.937-945.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
There is evidence to show that childhood adversities (such as abuse and neglect, parental psychopathology, and major life events) have considerable effects on the mental and physical health of adults. This study used data from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (a national representative population sample survey with 7,056 respondents) to try to estimate the disease burden of childhood adversities. The researchers calculated the disability weighting for each respondent, reflecting the severity of the disease or condition and indicating the proportion of a healthy life year that is reduced by the specific health state of the individual, and the total number of years lost due to disability in the population. They also calculated the years lived with disability for 9 different childhood adversities as well as for major categories of mental disorders and general medical disorders. The study found that all 9 adversities resulted in a significantly increased disability weight, except death of a parent before the age of 16. Adversities in the abuse and neglect category were associated with the highest disability weights, and this category had the highest years lived with disability, indicating how many years in good health are lost. The authors conclude that childhood adversities are more important from a public health point of view than all common mental disorders together, and should be a priority for public health interventions.
Neurodevelopmental biology associated with childhood sexual abuse
- Authors:
- de BELLIS Michael D., SPRATT Eve G., HOOPER Stephen R.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 20(5), September 2011, pp.548-587.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Child maltreatment appears to be the single most preventable cause of mental illness and behavioural dysfunction in the United States. This article reviews the psychiatric problems associated with maltreatment and the emerging biologic stress system research with a special emphasis on what is known about victimisation by sexual abuse. Data shows that the effects of traumatic stress on the developing brain may be severe and persistent. There are multiple mechanisms through which sexual abuse can cause post-traumatic stress disorder, activate biological stress response systems, and contribute to adverse brain development. However, there appear to be some factors that may be protective against this response. In theory, early interventions with maltreating parents, loving adoptive families, cognitive behavioural therapy and medications may lead to therapeutic reversibility of the adverse brain developmental effects of abuse.
Variations in emotional abuse experiences among multiply maltreated young adolescents and relations with developmental outcomes
- Authors:
- TRICKETT Penelope K., KIM Kihyun, PRINDLE John
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 35(10), October 2011, pp.876-886.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Previous research has suggested that emotional abuse very often overlaps with other types of child maltreatment. The aim of this study was to explore patterns of overlapping types of child maltreatment. The sample was 303 ethnically diverse male and female youth identified as maltreated by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Information about the maltreatment experiences was obtained using data from case records abstraction. Cluster analysis was conducted using the categorisation of 4 types of abuse: physical (PA), sexual (SA), emotional abuse (EA), and neglect (NE). The results were ordered to focus on emotional abuse. The findings identified 4 clusters of child maltreatment experiences (no EA, EA+PA, EA+PA+NE, and EA+PA+NE+SA). The different clusters of child maltreatment were compared on the multiple outcomes such as mental health, behaviour problems, self-perception, and cognitive development. Different clusters were differentially associated with multiple outcome measures. In general, multiply-maltreated youth fared worst, especially when the cluster involved sexual abuse. Also, sex differences were found in these associations, with boys who experienced multiple types of maltreatment showing more difficulties than girls. These results reiterate the importance of creating more complex models of child maltreatment.
Identifying and determining the symptom severity associated with polyvictimization among psychiatrically impaired children in the outpatient setting
- Authors:
- FORD Julian D., WASSER Tobias, CONNOR Daniel F.
- Journal article citation:
- Child Maltreatment, 16(3), August 2011, pp.216-226.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Polyvictimisation involves experiencing multiple forms of maltreatment or other interpersonal victimisation. The aim of this study was to replicate the findings of an earlier study of polyvictimisation in severely psychiatrically impaired children (which found that polyvictims are at risk of severe psychosocial impairment), using a larger and less impaired clinical population of children receiving outpatient psychiatric services. Cluster analysis was used to identify a group of 22 polyvictimised children among 295 outpatient admissions to the University of Connecticut Health Center Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic from 2007 to 2009. The article describes the method, measures and statistical analyses, and sets out the results. Polyvictimisation was associated with severe parent-reported externalising problems, psychiatric impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder. Further clinical and research assessment of polyvictimisation with child psychiatry outpatients is suggested.
Family characteristics and long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse
- Authors:
- BHANDARI Suchitra, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 50(4), November 2011, pp.435-451.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with high rates of psychological problems. The ‘abuse related’ perspective assumes a direct causal link between the abuse and later problems, and the ‘family dysfunction’ perspective assumes that these problems are caused by the dysfunctional nature of families in which abuse occurs. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of family variables in the development of psychological problems in CSA survivors. A retrospective cohort study was conducted comparing sexually abused and non-abused participants matched one-to-one on demographic variables. The participants were 64 clinical participants recruited from a psychological therapy waiting list, and 44 students. The participants completed measures of psychological and sexual adjustment, family functioning, and construing. Multiple linear regression models investigated overall and independent associations between abuse, family circumstances, and adjustment in adulthood. The findings showed only weak evidence for the influence of CSA, independently of family environment, on later psychological distress and sexual adjustment, but strong evidence for the influence of aspects of family environment, independent of abuse, on later psychological distress, sexual adjustment, self-esteem, body image, and sexual attitude. These findings provide support for the ‘family dysfunction’ perspective on the long-term effects of CSA.
History of interpersonal violence, abuse, and nonvictimization trauma and severity of psychiatric symptoms among children in outpatient psychiatric treatment
- Authors:
- FORD Julian D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(16), November 2011, pp.3316-3337.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Child victims of interpersonal violence are at increased risk of both internalising and externalising psychiatric problems. This study aimed to determine whether specific forms of interpersonal violence were associated with the internalising and externalising psychiatric problems in a clinical sample of child psychiatry outpatients. Study data was collected by chart review of 114 consecutive admissions over a 1-year period at a Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic in the northeastern United States. Data included history of documented maltreatment, potentially traumatic domestic or community violence, neglect or emotional abuse, and noninterpersonal stressors as well as demographics, psychiatric diagnoses, and parent-rated child emotional and disruptive behaviour problems. Analysis revealed that any past exposure to interpersonal violence, but not to noninterpersonal traumas, was related to more severe disruptive behaviour problems. Noninterpersonal trauma and psychiatric diagnoses were associated with emotional problems; exposure to interpersonal violence appeared to partially account for this relationship despite not being independently associated with emotional problem severity. The article concludes that a history of exposure to interpersonal violence should be considered in the assessment and treatment planning of children receiving outpatient psychiatric care.