Risky Behaviors and Depression in Conjunction Withor in the Absence ofLifetime History of PTSD Among Sexually Abused Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 229525
• Journal: Child Maltreatment Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2010 Pages: 101-107
• Author(s): Carla Kmett Danielson; Alexandra Macdonald; Ananda B. Amstadter; Rochelle Hanson; Michael A. de Arellano; Benjamin E. Saunders; Dean G. Kilpatrick
• Date Published: February 2010
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 HD046830; K23DA018686
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study compares the prevalence of lifetime and past year risky behaviors, and major depression with or without a history of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among sexually abused youth.

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often considered the primary problematic outcome of child sexual abuse (CSA). However, a number of other, relatively understudied negative sequelae appear to be prevalent as well. Data from 269 adolescents with a CSA history from the National Survey of AdolescentsReplication Study were therefore used to examine the prevalence of risky behaviors (i.e., problematic alcohol and drug use, delinquent behavior) and depression in this sample. The frequencies of these problems in youth with and without a history of PTSD also were examined. Results indicated that risky behaviors and depression were reported as or more frequently than PTSD. Among youth with a history of PTSD, depression and delinquent behavior were more common than among those without a history of PTSD. However, there were no differences between adolescents with and without a history of PTSD in reported problematic substance use. Findings highlight the need for comprehensive trauma-informed interventions for CSA exposed adolescents. Table and references (Published Abstract)