EARLY-CHILDHOOD ABUSE AND LIMBIC SYSTEM RATINGS IN ADULT PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENTS

The authors investigated the hypothesis that early abuse might affect the development of the limbic system. During initial psychiatric evalu ation, 253 outpatients completed a self-report scale, the Limbic Syste m Checklist-33 (LSCL-33), designed to measure somatic, sensory, behavi oral, and memory symptoms suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy, along with a questionnaire about physical or sexual abuse. Physical abuse wa s associated with a 38% increase in LSCL-33 scores (P < 0.01), sexual abuse with a 49% increase (P < 0.02), and combined abuse with a 113% i ncrease (P < 0.0001). Physical or sexual abuse alone was associated wi th elevated LSCL-33 scores only if the abuse occurred before age 18.