Advanced Search

The American Journal of Psychiatry, VOL. 157, No. 10

Letter to the Editor | October 01, 2000

Psychological Defense Styles and Childhood Sexual Abuse

JAMES A. CHU, M.D.

Am J Psychiatry 2000;157:1707-1707. 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.10.1707

Article

References

text A A A

To the Editor: The article by Sarah E. Romans, M.D., F.R.A.N.Z.C.P., et al. (1) is a valuable contribution to the literature on the effects of childhood traumatic experiences. As the authors noted, very few investigations have studied a nonclinical population.

This study found that childhood sexual abuse—even including intercourse—was not related to higher levels of dissociation. This conclusion should be understood in a larger context. Our findings (2, 3) suggest that early onset and chronicity of childhood trauma are related to the development of dissociation, and the current study did not address these factors. On a theoretical basis, some younger children are believed to have a high capacity to dissociate and maintain that high level only through repeated traumatization. In a community population with relatively low levels of psychiatric illness or disability, one might suspect that many women who were sexually abused suffered relatively limited abuse, for which they may have compensated. In clinical populations one would be more likely to find the types of psychological damage (perhaps including dissociation) that result from chronic traumatization beginning at an early age.

Despite its limitations, this study is an important first step. It is critical to study nonclinical populations to determine what psychiatric problems develop from what kind of life experiences. Just as important, it must be determined what protective mechanisms exist that may protect traumatized children from suffering ongoing psychological damage from their experiences.

References

Romans SE, Martin JL, Morris E, Herbison GP: Psychological defense styles in women who report childhood sexual abuse: a controlled community study. Am J Psychiatry1999; 156:1080– 1085

Kirby JS, Chu JA, Dill DL: Correlates of dissociative symptomatology in patients with physical and sexual abuse histories. Compr Psychiatry 1993; 34:258–263[PubMed][CrossRef]

Chu JA, Frey LM, Ganzel BL, Matthews JA: Memories of childhood abuse: dissociation, amnesia and corroboration. Am J Psychiatry 1999; 156:749–755[PubMed]

Romans SE, Martin JL, Morris E, Herbison GP: Psychological defense styles in women who report childhood sexual abuse: a controlled community study. Am J Psychiatry1999; 156:1080– 1085

Kirby JS, Chu JA, Dill DL: Correlates of dissociative symptomatology in patients with physical and sexual abuse histories. Compr Psychiatry 1993; 34:258–263[PubMed][CrossRef]

Chu JA, Frey LM, Ganzel BL, Matthews JA: Memories of childhood abuse: dissociation, amnesia and corroboration. Am J Psychiatry 1999; 156:749–755[PubMed]

CME Activity

There is currently no quiz available for this resource. Please click here to go to the CME page to find another.

Submit a Comments

Please read the other comments before you post yours. Contributors must reveal any conflict of interest.
Comments are moderated and will appear on the site at the discertion of JBJS editorial staff.

* = Required Field

Comment Author(s)*(if multiple authors, separate names by comma)

Example: John Doe

Affiliation & Institution*

Comment Title*

Comment*

Cancel

Print
E-mail

Recipient(s) will receive an email with a link (good for 72 hours) to 'Psychological Defense Styles and Childhood Sexual Abuse' and do not need to have American Journal of Psychiatry account to access the content.
Your Name:*
Example: John Doe

Email Address:* CC Me:
Enter your valid email address. Example: jdoe@example.com

Recipient's Email Address:*
Separate multiple email address with semi-colons (up to 5).

Subject:* 's American Journal of Psychiatry: 'Psychological Defense Styles and Childhood Sexual Abuse'
Subject for your email.

Message:
(Optional, message will truncate at 1000 characters)

Processing your request... Please Wait...

Copyright © in the material you requested is held by The American Psychiatric Association (unless otherwise noted). This email ability is provided as a courtesy, and by using it you agree that you are requesting the material solely for personal, non-commercial use, and that it is subject to The American Psychiatric Association's Terms of Use. The information provided in order to email this topic will not be used to send unsolicited email, nor will it be furnished to third parties. Please refer to The American Psychiatric Association's Privacy Policy for further information.

Copyright © American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.
Share
Get Citation

JAMES A. CHU; Psychological Defense Styles and Childhood Sexual Abuse. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2000 Oct;157(10):1707-1707.

Download citation file:

RIS (Zotero)

EndNote

BibTex

Medlars

ProCite

RefWorks

Reference Manager

Copyright © American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.
Reprints