Clinical effects of sexual abuse on people with learning disability: Critical literature review (original) (raw)
Related papers
Clinical effects of sexual abuse on people with learning disability
British Journal of Psychiatry, 2003
BackgroundThere are few publications concerning the psychological reactions of people with learning disabilities to sexual abuse. Most significantly, there are no controlled studies and few which demonstrate a systematic approach to documenting the sequelae of trauma.AimsTo critically review the published research in this field.MethodA literature search in peer-reviewed psychiatry, psychology nursing and social care journals for the years 1974 to 2001 was conducted and 25 studies were reviewed.ResultsSeveral studies suggest that, following sexual abuse, people with learning disabilities may experience a range of psychopathology similar to that experienced by adults and children in the general population. However, because of methodological limitations, these results are not conclusive.ConclusionsWhether people with learning disabilities experience reactions to sexual abuse similar to the general population has yet to be explored by systematic research.
Psychological disturbance associated with sexual abuse in people with learning disabilities
British Journal of Psychiatry, 2003
BackgroundThe association between sexual abuse, mental health and behavioural problems in people with learning disabilities has not previously been examined in a controlled study.AimsTo identify symptoms of psychological disturbance in adults with and without a confirmed history of sexual abuse.MethodThe study used a matched (1:1) case–control design comparing 54 adults who had experienced sexual abuse with 54 adults with no reported history of abuse. The two groups were selected from a community population of adults with learning disabilities living in residential care, and compared for selected psychiatric diagnoses and for scores on measures of disturbed behaviour.ResultsSexual abuse was associated with increased rates of mental illness and behavioural problems, and with symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Psychological reactions to abuse were similar to those observed in the general population, but with the addition of stereotypical behaviour. The more serious the abuse, the more...
2002
Declaration of interest None. Within the general population, experience of sexual trauma or abuse is associated with psychological disturbance (Briere, 1992; Kendall-Tackett et al, 1993; Friedrich, 1998). However, there are few publications concerning the psychological reactions of people with learning disabilities to sexual abuse. Most significantly, there are no controlled studies. Furthermore, the majority of studies are single case reports, and few demonstrate a systematic approach to documenting the sequelae of trauma in this group. This dearth in the literature is surprising, given that research in the general population suggests that individual responses to abuse may be less related to the actual characteristics of the event than to developmental variables that predispose the individual to being overwhelmed by the experience (Friedrich, 1998). In addition, we know that people with learning disabilities suffer from a similar or higher rate of mental health problems compared wi...