Early sexual abuse and clinical depression in adult life

doi:10.1192/bjp.159.1.115

This Article

	Full Text (PDF)
	Submit an eLetter
	Alert me when this article is cited
	Alert me when eLetters are posted
	Alert me if a correction is posted
	Citation Map

Services

	Email this article to a friend
	Similar articles in this journal
	Similar articles in PubMed
	Alert me to new issues of the journal
	Download to citation manager

Citing Articles

	Citing Articles via HighWire
	Citing Articles via CrossRef
	Citing Articles via Google Scholar
	Citing Articles via Scopus

Google Scholar

	Articles by Bifulco, A.
	Articles by Adler, Z.
	Search for Related Content

PubMed

	PubMed Citation
	Articles by Bifulco, A.
	Articles by Adler, Z.

The British Journal of Psychiatry 159: 115-122 (1991)
© 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Early sexual abuse and clinical depression in adult life

A Bifulco, GW Brown and Z Adler
Department of Social Policy & Social Science, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College (University of London).

Sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence was studied in 286 working- class mothers living in Islington, who were contacted on three occasions over a two-year period. The sample was collected primarily to study current vulnerability factors in the onset of depression, but childhood measures were also included to look at longer-term risk factors. Twenty-five women - 9% of the sample - reported sexual abuse involving physical contact before age 17 and, of these, 64% had case depression in a three-year period (which included the year before first interview). While such abuse was related to other earlier stressful experiences such as parental indifference, violence to the child and institutional stay, it was associated with an increased risk of depression over and above these factors. Sexual abuse before age 17 also related to having been divorced/separated or never having married/cohabited.

This article has been cited by other articles:

M. F. Dennis, A. M. Flood, V. Reynolds, G. Araujo, C. P. Clancy, J. C. Barefoot, and J. C. Beckham
Evaluation of Lifetime Trauma Exposure and Physical Health in Women With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or Major Depressive Disorder
Violence Against Women, May 1, 2009; 15(5): 618 - 627.
[Abstract] [PDF]

H. Fisher, C. Morgan, P. Dazzan, T. K. Craig, K. Morgan, G. Hutchinson, P. B. Jones, G. A. Doody, C. Pariante, P. McGuffin, et al.
Gender differences in the association between childhood abuse and psychosis
The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2009; 194(4): 319 - 325.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

J. Stroud
A psychosocial analysis of child homicide
Critical Social Policy, November 1, 2008; 28(4): 482 - 505.
[Abstract] [PDF]

C. Spatz Widom, K. DuMont, and S. J. Czaja
A Prospective Investigation of Major Depressive Disorder and Comorbidity in Abused and Neglected Children Grown Up
Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 2007; 64(1): 49 - 56.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

C. Morgan and H. Fisher
Environment and Schizophrenia: Environmental Factors in Schizophrenia: Childhood Trauma--A Critical Review
Schizophr Bull, January 1, 2007; 33(1): 3 - 10.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

J. G. Noll
Does Childhood Sexual Abuse Set in Motion a Cycle of Violence Against Women?: What We Know and What We Need to Learn
J Interpers Violence, April 1, 2005; 20(4): 455 - 462.
[Abstract] [PDF]

P. A. Hulme
Retrospective Measurement of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Review of Instruments
Child Maltreat, May 1, 2004; 9(2): 201 - 217.
[Abstract] [PDF]

J. Spataro, P. E. Mullen, P. M. Burgess, D. L. Wells, and S. A. Moss
Impact of child sexual abuse on mental health: Prospective study in males and females
The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2004; 184(5): 416 - 421.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

P. BUTTERWORTH
Lone mothers' experience of physical and sexual violence: association with psychiatric disorders
The British Journal of Psychiatry, January 1, 2004; 184(1): 21 - 27.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

J. COID, A. PETRUCKEVITCH, W.-S. CHUNG, J. RICHARDSON, S. MOOREY, and G. FEDER
Abusive experiences and psychiatric morbidity in women primary care attenders
The British Journal of Psychiatry, October 1, 2003; 183(4): 332 - 339.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

E. C. Nelson, A. C. Heath, P. A. F. Madden, M. L. Cooper, S. H. Dinwiddie, K. K. Bucholz, A. Glowinski, T. McLaughlin, M. P. Dunne, D. J. Statham, et al.
Association Between Self-reported Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adverse Psychosocial Outcomes: Results From a Twin Study
Arch Gen Psychiatry, February 1, 2002; 59(2): 139 - 145.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

J. HILL, A. PICKLES, E. BURNSIDE, M. BYATT, L. ROLLINSON, R. DAVIS, and K. HARVEY
Child sexual abuse, poor parental care and adult depression: evidence for different mechanisms
The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2001; 179(2): 104 - 109.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

V. E. WHIFFEN, J. M. THOMPSON, and J. A. AUBE
Mediators of the Link Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adult Depressive Symptoms
J Interpers Violence, October 1, 2000; 15(10): 1100 - 1120.
[Abstract] [PDF]

K. S. Kendler, C. M. Bulik, J. Silberg, J. M. Hettema, J. Myers, and C. A. Prescott
Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adult Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders in Women: An Epidemiological and Cotwin Control Analysis
Arch Gen Psychiatry, October 1, 2000; 57(10): 953 - 959.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

E. Frank and D. J. Kupfer
Peeking Through the Door to the 21st Century
Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 2000; 57(1): 83 - 85.
[Full Text] [PDF]

B. A. Arnow, S. Hart, C. Scott, R. Dea, L. O'Connell, and C. B. Taylor
Childhood Sexual Abuse, Psychological Distress, and Medical Use Among Women
Psychosom Med, November 1, 1999; 61(6): 762 - 770.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

V. E. WHIFFEN, M. E. JUDD, and J. A. AUBE
Intimate Relationships Moderate the Association Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Depression
J Interpers Violence, September 1, 1999; 14(9): 940 - 954.
[Abstract] [PDF]

E. L. Weiss, J. G. Longhurst, and C. M. Mazure
Childhood Sexual Abuse as a Risk Factor for Depression in Women: Psychosocial and Neurobiological Correlates
Am J Psychiatry, June 1, 1999; 156(6): 816 - 828.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

G. Gladstone, G. Parker, K. Wilhelm, P. Mitchell, and M.-P. Austin
Characteristics of Depressed Patients Who Report Childhood Sexual Abuse
Am J Psychiatry, March 1, 1999; 156(3): 431 - 437.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

R. D. Levitan, S. V. Parikh, A. D. Lesage, K. M. Hegadoren, M. Adams, S. H. Kennedy, and P. N. Goering
Major Depression in Individuals With a History of Childhood Physical or Sexual Abuse: Relationship to Neurovegetative Features, Mania, and Gender
Am J Psychiatry, December 1, 1998; 155(12): 1746 - 1752.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

M. Cheasty, A. W Clare, and C. Collins
Relation between sexual abuse in childhood and adult depression: case-control study
BMJ, January 17, 1998; 316(7126): 198 - 201.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

A. A. Giese, M. R. Thomas, S. L. Dubovsky, and S. Hilty
The Impact of a History of Childhood Abuse on Hospital Outcome of Affective Episodes
Psychiatr Serv, January 1, 1998; 49(1): 77 - 81.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

F CREED
Who needs a doctor for IBS?
Gut, September 1, 1997; 41(3): 415 - 416.
[Full Text] [PDF]

E. B. Carlson, L. Furby, J. Armstrong, and J. Shlaes
A Conceptual Framework for the Long-Term Psychological Effects of Traumatic Childhood Abuse
Child Maltreat, August 1, 1997; 2(3): 272 - 295.
[Abstract]

P. J. Wagner, P. Mongan, D. Hamrick, and L. K. Hendrick
Experience of Abuse in Primary Care Patients: Racial and Rural Differences
Arch Fam Med, November 1, 1995; 4(11): 956 - 962.
[Abstract] [PDF]

G. WALLER, A. RUDDOCK, and S. CURETON
Cognitive Correlates of Reported Sexual Abuse in Eating-Disordered Women
J Interpers Violence, June 1, 1995; 10(2): 176 - 187.
[Abstract]

				H. Fisher, C. Morgan, P. Dazzan, T. K. Craig, K. Morgan, G. Hutchinson, P. B. Jones, G. A. Doody, C. Pariante, P. McGuffin, et al. Gender differences in the association between childhood abuse and psychosis The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2009; 194(4): 319 - 325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Stroud A psychosocial analysis of child homicide Critical Social Policy, November 1, 2008; 28(4): 482 - 505. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Spatz Widom, K. DuMont, and S. J. Czaja A Prospective Investigation of Major Depressive Disorder and Comorbidity in Abused and Neglected Children Grown Up Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 2007; 64(1): 49 - 56. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Morgan and H. Fisher Environment and Schizophrenia: Environmental Factors in Schizophrenia: Childhood Trauma--A Critical Review Schizophr Bull, January 1, 2007; 33(1): 3 - 10. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. G. Noll Does Childhood Sexual Abuse Set in Motion a Cycle of Violence Against Women?: What We Know and What We Need to Learn J Interpers Violence, April 1, 2005; 20(4): 455 - 462. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. A. Hulme Retrospective Measurement of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Review of Instruments Child Maltreat, May 1, 2004; 9(2): 201 - 217. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Spataro, P. E. Mullen, P. M. Burgess, D. L. Wells, and S. A. Moss Impact of child sexual abuse on mental health: Prospective study in males and females The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2004; 184(5): 416 - 421. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. BUTTERWORTH Lone mothers' experience of physical and sexual violence: association with psychiatric disorders The British Journal of Psychiatry, January 1, 2004; 184(1): 21 - 27. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. COID, A. PETRUCKEVITCH, W.-S. CHUNG, J. RICHARDSON, S. MOOREY, and G. FEDER Abusive experiences and psychiatric morbidity in women primary care attenders The British Journal of Psychiatry, October 1, 2003; 183(4): 332 - 339. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. C. Nelson, A. C. Heath, P. A. F. Madden, M. L. Cooper, S. H. Dinwiddie, K. K. Bucholz, A. Glowinski, T. McLaughlin, M. P. Dunne, D. J. Statham, et al. Association Between Self-reported Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adverse Psychosocial Outcomes: Results From a Twin Study Arch Gen Psychiatry, February 1, 2002; 59(2): 139 - 145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. HILL, A. PICKLES, E. BURNSIDE, M. BYATT, L. ROLLINSON, R. DAVIS, and K. HARVEY Child sexual abuse, poor parental care and adult depression: evidence for different mechanisms The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2001; 179(2): 104 - 109. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. E. WHIFFEN, J. M. THOMPSON, and J. A. AUBE Mediators of the Link Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adult Depressive Symptoms J Interpers Violence, October 1, 2000; 15(10): 1100 - 1120. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. S. Kendler, C. M. Bulik, J. Silberg, J. M. Hettema, J. Myers, and C. A. Prescott Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adult Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders in Women: An Epidemiological and Cotwin Control Analysis Arch Gen Psychiatry, October 1, 2000; 57(10): 953 - 959. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Frank and D. J. Kupfer Peeking Through the Door to the 21st Century Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 2000; 57(1): 83 - 85. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Arnow, S. Hart, C. Scott, R. Dea, L. O'Connell, and C. B. Taylor Childhood Sexual Abuse, Psychological Distress, and Medical Use Among Women Psychosom Med, November 1, 1999; 61(6): 762 - 770. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. E. WHIFFEN, M. E. JUDD, and J. A. AUBE Intimate Relationships Moderate the Association Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Depression J Interpers Violence, September 1, 1999; 14(9): 940 - 954. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. L. Weiss, J. G. Longhurst, and C. M. Mazure Childhood Sexual Abuse as a Risk Factor for Depression in Women: Psychosocial and Neurobiological Correlates Am J Psychiatry, June 1, 1999; 156(6): 816 - 828. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. Gladstone, G. Parker, K. Wilhelm, P. Mitchell, and M.-P. Austin Characteristics of Depressed Patients Who Report Childhood Sexual Abuse Am J Psychiatry, March 1, 1999; 156(3): 431 - 437. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. D. Levitan, S. V. Parikh, A. D. Lesage, K. M. Hegadoren, M. Adams, S. H. Kennedy, and P. N. Goering Major Depression in Individuals With a History of Childhood Physical or Sexual Abuse: Relationship to Neurovegetative Features, Mania, and Gender Am J Psychiatry, December 1, 1998; 155(12): 1746 - 1752. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Cheasty, A. W Clare, and C. Collins Relation between sexual abuse in childhood and adult depression: case-control study BMJ, January 17, 1998; 316(7126): 198 - 201. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. A. Giese, M. R. Thomas, S. L. Dubovsky, and S. Hilty The Impact of a History of Childhood Abuse on Hospital Outcome of Affective Episodes Psychiatr Serv, January 1, 1998; 49(1): 77 - 81. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				F CREED Who needs a doctor for IBS? Gut, September 1, 1997; 41(3): 415 - 416. [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. B. Carlson, L. Furby, J. Armstrong, and J. Shlaes A Conceptual Framework for the Long-Term Psychological Effects of Traumatic Childhood Abuse Child Maltreat, August 1, 1997; 2(3): 272 - 295. [Abstract]

				P. J. Wagner, P. Mongan, D. Hamrick, and L. K. Hendrick Experience of Abuse in Primary Care Patients: Racial and Rural Differences Arch Fam Med, November 1, 1995; 4(11): 956 - 962. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. WALLER, A. RUDDOCK, and S. CURETON Cognitive Correlates of Reported Sexual Abuse in Eating-Disordered Women J Interpers Violence, June 1, 1995; 10(2): 176 - 187. [Abstract]