Child sexual abuse and psychopathological consequences in adult life

Abstract

Introduction: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a traumatic, universal, and underestimated type of abuse that constitutes a public health problem. It affects the psychological and mental adaptation of the victims, in the short and long term, generating physical, emotional, social, and behavioral problems. The aim is to study the impact of CSA in terms of adult psychopathology, detailing those characteristics that determine the typology and severity of the symptoms. Methodology: A review is carried out through databases and specialized magazines, in a time interval that covers from January 2010 to September 2021, using the keywords: 'child sexual abuse', 'child sex abuse’, 'psychopathology', 'psychopathological consequences'. 114 articles are preselected, which are filtered according to sample analyzed and methodological quality, choosing 21 to review. Results: It is evidenced that CSA is associated in a decisive way with clinical onset in the adult stage that includes anxiety, mood disorders, somatic complaints, substance abuse and suicidal ideation. Psychopathology is more serious in a family context because the breakdown of trust and attachment is traumatic. Even so, there is no univocal psychopathology that could constitute a "post-abuse syndrome". Conclusions: Child sexual abuse is a complex vital experience associated to severe consequences. It would be advisable to develop prevention and early detection programs, increase awareness campaigns and replicate longitudinal and prospective tests that contribute to broadening knowledge about its consequences.