Annika Münzer

Resilience in survivors of child sexual abuse: a systematic review of the literature

Objective. This review article summarizes empirical research on resilience in survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) and discusses protective factors that are associated with adaptive functioning in spite of sexual victimization. Methods. A literature search to identify studies published up to November 2013 was performed within the databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, and PSYNDEXplus. Additional relevant studies were retrieved using a snowball technique. A total of 37 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final sample. Results. In the studies included in this review, the percentage of CSA survivors who were found to have a normal level of functioning despite a history of sexual abuse ranged from 10% to 53%. The protective factors that had the best empirical support were found to be education, interpersonal and emotional competence, control beliefs, active coping, optimism, social attachment, external attribution of blame, and most importantly, support from the family and the wider social environment. Conclusions. Preventive and clinical interventions for survivors of CSA should utilize psychoeducation and cognitive strategies that are adapted to the developmental level of the victim and that seek to enhance social support from significant others. Future research should focus on longitudinal research designs considering resilience rather as a dynamic process with multiple dimensions in a social and developmental context.

Experience by children and adolescents of more than one type of maltreatment: Association of different classes of maltreatment profiles with clinical outcome variables

Most victims of child abuse have experienced more than one type of maltreatment, yet there is a lack of understanding of the impact of specific combinations of types of maltreatment. This study aimed to identify meaningful classes of maltreatment profiles and to associate them with short-term clinical outcomes. A total of 358 German children and adolescents aged 4-17 with a known history of child maltreatment were included in the study. Through interviews and questionnaires, information was obtained from participants and their primary caregivers on history of maltreatment, sociodemographics, psychopathology, level of psychosocial functioning, and health-related quality of life. Types of abuse were categorized into six major groups: sexual abuse in general, sexual abuse with penetration, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. A latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to determine distinct multi-type maltreatment profiles, which were then assessed for their associations with the sociodemographic and clinical outcome variables. The LCA revealed that participants could be categorized into three meaningful classes according to history of maltreatment: (1) experience of multiple types of maltreatment excluding sexual abuse (63.1%), (2) experience of multiple types of maltreatment including sexual abuse (26.5%), and (3) experience of predominantly sexual abuse (10.3%). Members of Class 2 showed significantly worse short-term outcomes on psychopathology, level of functioning, and quality of life compared to the other classes. Three distinct profiles of multiple types of maltreatment were empirically identified in this sample. Exposure to multiple types of abuse was associated with poorer outcomes.

Please Tell! Barriers to Disclosing Sexual Victimization and Subsequent Social Support Perceived by Children and Adolescents

The present study examines barriers to disclosing sexual victimization and perceived social support after disclosure from the perspective of children and adolescents. Forty-two children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years participated in semistructured interviews about their history of sexual victimization, the delay of disclosure, barriers to disclosure, informal and formal recipients of disclosure, as well as abuse-specific social support as perceived by the recipients. The participants disclosed their victimization with a delay of approximately 17 months, ranging from immediate reporting to 10 years of nondisclosure. The most frequent reasons to withhold the information were feelings of shame and threats by the perpetrator. A majority felt that people believed and supported them after disclosing, but a considerable proportion of study participants reported a lack of perceived protection against recurring victimization. The results underline the importance of educating children and adolescents about sexual victimization and of encouraging the immediate reporting of critical incidents. Possibilities to address the barriers identified in this study are discussed.

Traumaanamnese und posttraumatische Stresssymptomatik in einer kinder- und jugendpsychiatrischen Inanspruchnahmepopulation

OBJECTIVE Systematic exploration of potentially traumatic events and posttraumatic stress symptoms of patients attending a hospital for child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy. METHODS The UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-IV was filled in by 413 children and adolescents and 403 caregivers at their first attendance at the clinic. RESULTS At least one traumatic event was reported by 46.9% of the children and adolescents and/or caregivers. Clinically relevant post-traumatic stress symptoms were reported in 22.9%. CONCLUSION In the investigated sample routinely performed screening assessments can identify clinically relevant post-traumatic stress symptoms in almost one of four patients of child mental health services.

Psychological Symptoms of Sexually Victimized Children and Adolescents Compared With Other Maltreatment Subtypes

ABSTRACT The differential effects of sexual victimization and other forms of maltreatment on psychological functioning are not well understood. A sample of sexually victimized children and adolescents (N = 70; 6.3–17.9 years) and a group of youth with a history of nonsexual maltreatment (N = 108; 6.7–16.9 years) were compared using measures of mental health and psychosocial functioning. Assessments included standardized clinical interviews on individual maltreatment history and current psychopathology as well as questionnaires on behavioral and emotional symptoms, including posttraumatic stress symptoms. The results from this study suggest that the risk of experiencing any current mental disorders was independent of type of maltreatment. The risk of meeting the criteria for a current diagnosis of major depression, however, is greater among youth with a history of maltreatment that includes sexual victimization. The significant impact of sexual victimization on posttraumatic stress symptoms was found to be nonsignificant after controlling for age and gender effects. The results indicate that the outcomes of child maltreatment depend on type of maltreatment, but age and gender must be taken into account.

Data on maltreatment profiles and psychopathology in children and adolescents.

We present data on maltreatment profiles and psychopathology of 358 children and adolescents (4–17 years). Data on maltreatment profiles has been categorized into six major maltreatment types: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse with penetration, exposure to intimate partner violence and neglect. The data on history of maltreatment is based on the interview version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ). Additionally data on psychopathology in general as well as specific disorders according to DSM-IV based on K-SADS-PL is presented. The data was used to examine patterns of co-occurrences of maltreatment and associated clinical outcome variables using latent class analysis (LCA), “Experience by children and adolescents of more than one type of maltreatment: association of different classes of maltreatment profiles with clinical outcome variables” (Witt et al.,) [1].

Children and adolescents after child abuse and neglect: do they receive appropriate treatment?

BACKGROUND Child abuse and neglect (CAN) is a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders. Untreated, disorders can sustain into adulthood. OBJECTIVES This study compares rates of psychiatric disorders to mental health care utilization in victims of CAN. METHODS From three regions in Germany, 322 children and adolescents aged between 4 and 17 and a non-abusive caregiver were assessed for the childs history of CAN, mental health and mental health care utilization via semi-structured interviews. RESULTS Approximately two thirds of the participants (present state 64.29 %; lifetime 69.57 %) suffered from a psychiatric disorder classifiable with ICD-10. Posttraumatic stress disorder (25.16 %), conduct disorders (21.34 %) and attention and hyperactivity disorders (16.15 %) were most frequently diagnosed. Merely 19.88 % were using mental health care at the time of the assessment. CONCLUSIONS The provision of mental health care for victims of CAN is insufficient. To improve access to appropriate services for this vulnerable clientele, cooperation between psychiatrists and psychotherapists and the child welfare system is essential. The implementation and dissemination of evidence-based diagnostic methods and treatments must be further advanced.

Kinder und Jugendliche mit Misshandlungserfahrungen: bekommen sie die Versorgung, die sie brauchen?

BACKGROUND Child abuse and neglect (CAN) is a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders. Untreated, disorders can sustain into adulthood. OBJECTIVES This study compares rates of psychiatric disorders to mental health care utilization in victims of CAN. METHODS From three regions in Germany, 322 children and adolescents aged between 4 and 17 and a non-abusive caregiver were assessed for the childs history of CAN, mental health and mental health care utilization via semi-structured interviews. RESULTS Approximately two thirds of the participants (present state 64.29 %; lifetime 69.57 %) suffered from a psychiatric disorder classifiable with ICD-10. Posttraumatic stress disorder (25.16 %), conduct disorders (21.34 %) and attention and hyperactivity disorders (16.15 %) were most frequently diagnosed. Merely 19.88 % were using mental health care at the time of the assessment. CONCLUSIONS The provision of mental health care for victims of CAN is insufficient. To improve access to appropriate services for this vulnerable clientele, cooperation between psychiatrists and psychotherapists and the child welfare system is essential. The implementation and dissemination of evidence-based diagnostic methods and treatments must be further advanced.

Verbesserter Zugang zu evidenzbasierten Therapien für psychisch kranke Kinder und Jugendliche nach Kindesmisshandlung und -missbrauch

Victims of child abuse and neglect are more likely to develop emotional and behavioral problems than their non-abused peers. In many cases they do not receive evidence based treatments. Based on pilot studies and clinical experience, a structured and manualized case-management protocol was developed to provide child welfare professionals guidance, direction and support in helping these families find and engage in appropriate treatment. The protocol is described. A survey among child welfare workers indicates a lack of knowledge about mental disorders in victims of child abuse as well as an insufficient cooperation between the child welfare and the mental healthcare system. Child welfare workers who have applied the manual evaluate it positively. This study shows that the structured case-management can be implemented in a child welfare setting.

Usual Care for Maltreatment- Related Pediatric Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Germany

Child maltreatment represents a major risk factor for the development of emotional and behavioral problems, especially posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While effective trauma-focused treatments are available, little is known about the usual mental healthcare for abused youths in Germany. The present study compared the utilization of mental healthcare in abused youths who had developed a PTSD (N = 95) with a group presenting other mental disorders (N = 146). Semistructured interviews were used to assess maltreatment histories, current mental health, and healthcare utilization. In addition, potential child factors associated with access to mental healthcare (age and level of functioning) were examined. Results showed that 65 % of both diagnostic groups currently fail to use any mental healthcare service. Of the participants with PTSD, 43 (45 %) had never received any mental healthcare intervention. Investigations on potential barriers are necessary to close the huge gap between clinical services and evidence-based, trauma-focused interventions.