In order to evaluate lifetime psychiatric diagnoses and prevalence of
dyssocial behaviors among self-reported child abusers, three large dat
abases of clinical, community, and family study subjects were examined
. Subjects who had acted as parents and who reported any episodes of c
hild battery were compared to those without any history of child batte
ry on prevalence of psychiatric disorders and dyssocial behaviors. Ove
rall, 4% of subjects from the community sample reported child abuse. A
busers not selected through alcoholism treatment were more likely to r
eceive diagnoses of alcoholism, antisocial personality disorder, and m
ajor depression. Those selected through alcoholism treatment were more
likely to have antisocial personality disorder. Abusers in general we
re found to have a history of disciplinary problems, property destruct
ion, and as adults to engage in other violent behaviors. It was conclu
ded that self-identified child abusers have increased lifetime rates o
f antisocial personality disorder, alcoholism, and depression. The ass
ociation between child abuse and other violence is not explained by se
lection of cases through the medical or legal systems.