Study on Mental Disorders in Abused Children

Ji-Hye Ha; Seong-Hu Lim; Soo-Hyun Joe

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.542

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Ha, Lim, and Joe: Study on Mental Disorders in Abused Children

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(4): 542-548.

Published online: 30 November 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.542

Study on Mental Disorders in Abused Children

Ji-Hye Ha, MD, PhD¹, Seong-Hu Lim, MD, PhD², Soo-Hyun Joe, MD, PhD³

¹Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Metropolitan Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

²Department of Psychiatry, Gangneung Yulgok Hospital, Gangneung, Korea.

³Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Ji-Hye Ha, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Metropolitan Children's Hospital, 260 Heolleung-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06801, Korea. Tel +82-2-570-8325, Fax +82-2-570-8324, doogieha@gmail.com

Received 7 July 2015 Revised 20 August 2015 Accepted 21 August 2015

Abstract

Objectives

Child abuse can affect mental and physical health of abused children. Accurate assessment of mental health of abused children is integral to providing proper treatment and preventing any further impact of childhood abuse on their future life. In this study, we investigated psychiatric illnesses among abused children.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version-Korean Version were conducted for 61 abused children after obtaining consent from their guardians. We also assessed the relationship between the demographic data of these abused children and their diagnoses.

Results

Among the abused children, more than half had more than one psychiatric disorder. The most frequently diagnosed disorders were attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. The incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder was higher in abused girls compared with abused boys. Abused children had a higher suicide risk than the general population. Among the parents of abused children, 50.8% had alcohol use disorders.

Conclusion

Among the abused children, 50.8% had psychiatric disorders. Administration of intensive psychiatric treatment to abused children, and prevention of child abuse by education, treatment, and monitoring high-risk parents is imperative.

Keywords: Child abuse, Psychiatric illness, Mental health, Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Present and Lifetime Version

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Family history of psychiatric disorders. AUD : Alcohol use disorder, DD : Depressive disorder, AD : Anxiety disorder, SPR : Schizophrenia.

Table 1

Demographic data of the abused children

BM : Biological mother, BF : Biological father, SM : Step mother, SF : Step father, GP : Grandparents, AUD : Alcohol use disorder, DD : Depressive disorder, AD : Anxiety disorder, SPR : Schizophrenia

Table 2

Abuse type

PHY : Physical, EMO : Emotional, SEX : Sexual, NEG : Neglect

Table 3

Relationship with the perpetrator

BM : Biological mother, BF : Biological father, SM : Step mother, SF : Step father

Table 4

Chief complaints of the abused children and their main caretakers

Table 5

Psychiatric diagnoses of the abused children

* : p<0.05. SAD : Separation anxiety disorder, HAD : Hyperanxiety disorder, GAD : Generalized anxiety disorder, OCD : Obsessive compulsive disorder, DD : Depressive disorder, PTSD : Posttraumatic stress disorder, ENU : Enuresis, ENC : Encopresis, ADHD : Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, CD : Conduct disorder, ODD : Oppositional defiant disorder, CTD : Chronic tic disorder, TTD : Transient tic disorder

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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