Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the sociodemographic features of sexually abused children and adolescents, who were sent to child psychiatry outpatient clinic for forensic evaluation, as well as their features related to the abuse and mental disorder diagnoses developing after the abuse.

Material and Methods: This study evaluated 215 sexually abused children and adolescents (157 female, 58 male) aged between 4.30 and 18 years (12.55±3.38), who were sent for judicial report. Hospital records and judicial reports of cases were examined by researchers retrospectively. The SPSS for Windows 16.0 program was used for statistical analysis.

Results:The most frequently reported sexual abuse type was sexual touching in girls (42.7%) and anal penetration in boys (50%). It was determined that the sexual abuse involved the touch in 89.8% of cases and penetration in 46%. 40.5% of victims were exposed to  sexual abuse  more than once. Regarding the abusers; all of them were male, 57.7% were familiar and 7.4% were among family members. 10.2% of cases were abused by more than one abuser. 81.9% of cases were diagnosed with at least one mental disorder following the abuse.  25.6% of the cases were diagnosed with ASD, 33.0% PTSD and 27.9% MDD. Intellectual disability was determined in 7.4% of cases.

Conclusion: It was observed that the mental disorder developed following the abuse in a great majority of victims. Sociodemographic features of our cases, as well as their features related to the abuse and the abusers are in line with the data of previous studies

Key Words: Sexual Abuse; Psychiatric Disorder; Child And Adolescent.