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Early sexual abuse and lifetime psychopathology: a co-twin control study
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Early sexual abuse and lifetime psychopathology: a co-twin control study

S H Dinwiddie, A C Heath, M P Dunne, K K Bucholz, P A F Madden, W S Slutske, L J Bierut, Dixie J Statham and N G Martin
Psychological Medicine, Vol.30(1), pp.41-52
2000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291799001373
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https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291799001373View
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Abstract

Psychology childhood sexual abuse twins psychopathology substance use
Background: This study was designed to determine lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders among twins who reported childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and to compare these rates with those among non-abused co-twins. The contribution of familial and individual-specific factors to reported sexual abuse who was examined. Method: Information about lifetime psychopathology and substance use was obtained by structured telephone interviews with 5995 Australian twins. Twins who reported a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) were contrasted on lifetime psychopathology with subjects without such a history; in addition, comparisons were made between same-sex twin pairs discordant for CSA. Results: A history of CSA was reported by 5.9% of the women and 2.5% of the men. In the sample as a whole, those reporting CSA were more likely to receive lifetime diagnosis of major depression, conduct disorder, panic disorder and alcoholism, and were more likely to report suicidal ideation and a history of suicide attempt. Abused women, but not men, were also more likely to report social phobia. When comparisons were restricted to non-abused co-twins, no difference in psychopathology were seen. However, rates of major depression, conduct disorder and suicidal ideation were higher if both co-twins were abused than if the respondent alone reported CSA. Model-fitting indicated that shared environmental factors influenced risk for reported CSA in women, but not in men. Conclusion: The association between CSA and psychopathology arises at least in part through the influence of shared familial factors on both risk of victimization and risk of psychopathology.

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Psychiatry
Psychology
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