Abstract
Research to date has failed to identify a unique syndrome describing the sequelae of child sexual abuse (CSA). Recently, however, some researchers have suggested Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as the diagnosis which best fits the syndrome commonly seen in CSA survivors. Research examining the consequences of CSA in terms of the applicability of a PTSD diagnosis is reviewed. Additionally, based on findings of significant relationships between PTSD and traumatic exposure in other trauma groups, this review also examines studies which have investigated relationships between exposure and symptom development among CSA survivors. Finally, conclusions regarding the applicability of PTSD to CSA survivors and suggestions for future research are offered.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alter-Reid, K., Gibbs, M. S., Lachenmeyer, J. R., Sigal, J., and Massoth, N. A. (1986). Sexual abuse of children: A review of the empirical findings.Clin. Psychol. Rev. 6: 249–266.
American Psychiatric Association (1987).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (third edition, revised), American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC.
Armsworth, M. W. (1984). Post-Traumatic stress responses in women who experienced incest as children or adolescents (Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 1984).Diss. Abstr. Int. 46: 1674-B.
Astin, M. C., Lawrence, K. J., Pincus, G., and Foy, D. W. (1990).Moderator variables of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among battered women, Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, LA.
Briere, J., and Conte, J. (1989).Amnesia in adults molested as children: Testing theories of repression, Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
Briere, J., and Runtz, M. (1988). Symptomatology associated with childhood sexual victimization in a nonclinical adult sample.Child Abuse Negl. 12: 51–59.
Browne, A., and Finkelhor, D. (1986). Impact of child sexual abuse: A review of the research.Psychol. Bull. 99: 66–77.
Cohen, L. J., and Roth, S. (1987). The psychological aftermath of rape: Long-term effects and individual differences in recovery.J. Social Clin. Psychol. 5: 525–534.
Deblinger, E., McLeer, S. V., Atkins, M. S., Ralphe, D., and Foa, E. (1989). Post-traumatic stress in sexually abused, physically abused, and nonabused children.Child Abuse Negl. 13: 403–408.
deChesney, M. (1985). Father-daughter incest: An overview.Behav. Sci. Law 3: 391–402.
Donaldson, M., and Gardner, J. (1985). Traumatic stress among women after childhood incest. In Figley, C. (ed.),Trauma and Its Wake Brunner/Mazel, New York, pp. 358–377.
Edwards, P. W., and Donaldson, M. A. (1989). Assessment of symptoms in adult survivors of incest: A factor analytic study of the Responses to Childhood Incest Questionnaire.Child Abuse Negl. 13: 101–110.
Finkelhor, D. (1986). Initial and long-term effects: A conceptual framework. In Finkelhor, D. (ed.),A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse Sage, Beverly Hills, CA, pp. 180–197.
Finkelhor, D. (1988). The trauma of child sexual abuse: Two models. In Wyatt, G. E., and Powell, G. J. (eds.),Lasting Effects of Child Sexual Abuse Sage, Newbury Park, pp. 61–82.
Finkelhor, D., Hotaling, G., Lewis, I. A., and Smith, C. (1990). Sexual abuse in a national survey of adult men and women: Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors.Child Abuse Negl. 14: 19–28.
Foy, D. W., Sipprelle, R. C., Rueger, D. B., and Carroll, E. M. (1984). Etiology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Vietnam veterans: Analysis of premilitary, military, and combat exposure influences.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 52: 79–87.
Friedrich, W. N., Urguiza, A. J., and Beilke, R. L. (1986). Behavior problems in sexually abused young children.J. Pediatr. Psychol. 11: 47–57.
Gallers, J., Foy, D., Donahoe Jr., C. P., and Goldfarb, J. (1988). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Vietnam combat veterans: Effects of traumatic violence exposure and military adjustment.J. Traum. Stress 1: 181–192.
Gelinas, D. J. (1983). The persisting negative effects of incest.Psychiatry 46: 312–332.
Goodwin, J. (1988). Post-traumatic symptoms in abused children.J. Traum. Stress 1: 475–488.
Greenwald, E., and Leitenberg, H. (1990). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in a nonclinical and nonstudent sample of adult women sexually abused as children.J. Interpers. Viol. 5: 217–228.
Horowitz, M. J., Wilner, N., and Alvarez, W. (1979). Impact of Event Scale: A measure of subjective stress.Psychosom. Med. 41: 209–218.
Houskamp, B. M., and Foy, D. W. (1991). The assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in battered women.J. Interpers. Viol. 6: 365–371.
Koverola, C., Foy, D., Heger, A., and Lytle, C. (1990, October).Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a sequelae of child sexual abuse, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of The Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, NA.
Lindberg, F. H., and Distad, L. J. (1985). Post-traumatic stress disorders in women who experienced childhood incest.Child Abuse Negl. 9: 329–334.
Lipovsky, J. A., and Kilpatrick, D. G. (1992). The child sexual abuse victim as an adult. In Donohue, W. and Geer, J. H. (eds.),The Sexual Abuse of Children: Theory, Research, and Therapy Lawrence Elbaum, New York. In press.
McLeer, S. V., Deblinger, E., Atkins, M. S., Foa, E. B., and Ralphe, D. L. (1988). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in sexually abused children.Am. Acad. Child Adol. Psychiatr. 27: 650–654.
Neumann, D. A., Gallers, J., and Foy, D. (1989).Traumatic violence and PTSD in rape victims, Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, San Francisco, CA.
Norris, J., and Feldman-Summers, S. (1981). Factors related to the psychological impacts of rape on the victim.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 90: 562–567.
Peters, S. D. (1988). Child sexual abuse and later psychological problems. In Wiatt, E. E., and Powell, G. J. (eds.),Lasting Effects of Child Sexual Abuse Sage, Newbury Park, pp. 101–116.
Rimsza, M. E., Berg, R. A., and Locke, C. (1988). Sexual abuse: Somatic and emotional reactions.Child Abuse Negl. 12: 201–208.
Rowan, A., Rodriguez, N., and Ryan, S. (1991, August). PTSD in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In Foy, D. (Chair),Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in child sexual abuse—Developmental cross sectional comparisons, Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
Santiago, J. M., McCall-Perez, F., Gorcey, M., and Beigel, A. (1985). Long-term psychological effects of rape in 35 rape victims.Am. J. Psychiatry 142: 1338–1340.
Sirles, E. A., Smith, J. A., and Kusama, H. (1989). Psychiatric status of intrafamilial child sexual abuse victims.J. Am. Acad. Child Adol. Psychiatry 28: 225–229.
Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B. W., Gibbon, M., and First, M. B. (1990).The Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IIIR American Psychiatric Press, Washington, DC.
Williams, M. B. (1990).PTSD and child sexual abuse: The enduring effects, Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, LA.
Wodarski, J. S., and Johnson, S. R. (1988). Child sexual abuse: Contributing factors, effects and relevant practice issues.Fam. Ther. 15: 157–173.
Wolfe, V. V., Gentile, C., and Wolfe, D. A. (1989). The impact of sexual abuse on children: A PTSD formulation.Behav. Ther. 20: 215–228.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This article was accepted for publication under the Editorship of Charles R. Figley.
About this article
Cite this article
Rowan, A.B., Foy, D.W. Post-traumatic stress disorder in child sexual abuse survivors: A literature review. J Trauma Stress 6, 3–20 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02093359
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02093359