Childhood antecedents of antisocial behavior: parental alcoholism and physical abusiveness

Article Abstract:

It is currently believed that factors that may increase the likelihood of developing antisocial behavior are child abuse and having an alcoholic parent. These factors are considered to be independent of each other, but may also be interactive in their effect on behavioral development. Previous studies have concentrated upon the effect of either parental alcoholism or parental abuse, but have not fully explored the interactive repercussions of these two influences. A prospective study was conducted on 131 men with alcoholic fathers and 70 men without alcoholic fathers who were used as controls. Each subject was evaluated for antisocial behavior in an extensive interview and six antisocial variables were considered. Apprehension by the authorities for criminal offenses was also noted for each subject; this was obtained by screening the police register. Results indicated that there was a slight increase in the incidence of abuse among the sons of alcoholics than in the comparison group. However, this was not statistically significant, which suggests that physical abuse and parental alcoholism are independent factors. Childhood physical abuse by a parent was found to be predictive of five of the six antisocial variables. However, having an alcoholic parent was not predictive of any of the six variables. Those who were physically abused as children were more likely to have been physically violent, to threaten others with violence, and to act out on aggressive impulses; they were less inclined to verbally express disagreement. The two groups were not distinguished by frequency of arrests. No evidence for the interaction of child abuse and parental alcoholism resulting in an increased risk for antisocial behavior was found. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Family violence, Domestic violence, Antisocial personality disorder, Children of alcoholics

---

Psychiatric morbidity in adult inpatients with childhood histories of sexual and physical abuse

Article Abstract:

Sexual and physical abuse are showing up more and more in the histories of patients treated in a variety of outpatient clinical settings. Yet only a few studies have examined the childhood abuse histories of general adult psychiatric inpatients, and the studies that have been done have tended to focus on women. There is growing recognition that males are sexually abused far more frequently than was once believed. In the largest study of its kind to date, 947 patients admitted to a medical center were interviewed, and abuse history, diagnosis, and other characteristics were recorded. The prevalence of reported childhood abuse was 18 percent overall: 9 percent for sexual abuse with or without physical abuse, 10 percent for physical abuse with or without sexual abuse, and 3 percent for combined abuse. More female than male patients reported being abused as children. Alcohol-related disorders were more common among victims of physical or combined abuse than among sexually abused or non-abused patients. Personality disorders were more common among patients reporting physical or combined abuse than among nonabused patients. Thoughts of suicide were more frequent in abused patients and were noted in 79 percent of the patients with combined physical and sexual abuse. Combined abuse in women and physical abuse in men were associated with a family history of psychiatric illness, most commonly alcoholism in male relatives. These findings emphasize the need for greater attention to family dynamics (interaction of members) and to alcoholism and treatment of alcoholism within the family, and, especially, the determination of abuse histories of patients. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Adult child abuse victims

---

Sexual abuse histories and sequelae in female psychiatric emergency room patients

Article Abstract:

Sexual child abuse is common in our culture and associated with resultant psychological difficulties. True estimation of sexual abuse histories in psychiatric clinic populations depends on assessment technique. History of sexual abuse is frequently not indicated if not directly elicited. The difference in rate of disclosure of sexual abuse was examined from clinic charts between patients asked directly about sexual abuse and those not directly asked. There was a major difference in proportion of patients identified as sexual abuse victims between these two groups. Only three of 50 charts (six percent) selected randomly from previous clinic patients revealed spontaneous patient reports of molestation during childhood. When clinicians were asked to elicit this information, 35 out of the 50 cases, 70 percent, documented sexual abuse histories. In this group, the 35 women reporting sexual abuse were significantly younger than the 15 not reporting it. Both incest and intercourse were reported by 74 percent of this group. They also reported more drug and alcohol abuse, sexual problems, reference to suicide, legal problems, prostitution and self-mutilation. They had a higher rate of diagnoses of personality disorders and borderline personality disorders, and a significantly higher incidence of psychiatric diagnoses in general. It is unclear whether this is the result of misdiagnoses of sexual abuse syndromes, or if sexual abuse predisposes these disorders.

Research, Diagnosis, Mental illness, Mental disorders, Child sexual abuse, Interviewing in psychiatry, Psychiatric interviewing

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The role of family and peer relations in adolescent antisocial behavior: Comparison of four ethnic groups
• Abstracts: Children's understanding of marital conflict and the marital relationship. Deaf children's understanding of emotions: desires take precedence
• Abstracts: Conditional root uniqueness points: psychological validity and perceptual consequences. Boundaries versus onsets in syllabic segmentation
• Abstracts: Neurochemical abnormalities of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Weighty perspectives: contemporary challenges in obesity and eating disorders
• Abstracts: Depressive episodes and dysphoria resulting from conjugal bereavement in a prospective community sample. Exploring the multidimensional aspects of grief reactions

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.