PREVALENCE OF SEXUAL ABUSE AMONG PATIENTS WITH FUNCTIONAL-DISORDERS OF THE LOWER GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT

To evaluate the links between gastrointestinal disorders and sexual ab use, we asked 344 patients consulting in a specialized tertiary care u niverstiy hospital or a gastroenterologist in private practice, if the y had been sexually abused. Forty per cent of patients suffering from lower functional digestive disorder gave a history of having been vict ims of sexual abuse in contrast to only 10% of patients with organic d iseases (P<0.0003). The prevalence was similar in private practice and in the university hospital. Abused patients were more likely to compl ain of constipation (P<0.03) and diarrhoea (P<0.04). Anismus was more frequent in patients who had been sexually abused (P<0.02). The preval ence of abuse was four times greater in patients with lower than with upper functional motor disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (P<0.00 2). This study confirms the large prevalence of a past history of sexu al abuse among patients consulting for gastrointestinal tract function al disorder, and this whatever the kind of recruitment may be. It show s the association to be much stronger in patients who have a lower rat her than an upper gastrointestinal dysfunction, the major complaint of abused patients being constipation and diarrhoea.