Abuse Characteristics and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Child and Adolescents Victims of Sexual Abuse: A Preliminary Investigation

This pilot study reports the preliminary results of an ongoing research addressing the psychological assessment of traumatized children and adolescents in forensic settings. Specifically, prevalence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was assessed in a sample of 26 Italian children and adolescents alleged sexual abuse victims (14 males, 12 females; mean age, 13.34 ± 2.48 years; range, 6-17 years). The association between PTSD and the following Characteristics of Sexual Abuse (CSA) were explored: typology and severity of sexual abuse, duration and frequency of acts, perpetrator relationship, and form of coercion. Participants were administered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Statement Validity Analysis, and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. The rate of PTSD was 26.9%. PTSD was associated with type of act and form of coercion. No associations were found between PTSD and duration of abuse, frequency of abuse, and perpetrator relationship. Preliminary results of the study suggest that the development of PTSD was associated with the type of sexual abuse (oral, anal, or vaginal violent penetration), regardless of the nature of the relationship with the perpetrator and the frequency/duration of the acts. Such results are consistent with previous data suggesting that the painful experience of the sexual abuse per se is a traumatogenic factor.