Psychopathology of sexual abuse in young people with intellectual disability

Citation
H. Firth et al., Psychopathology of sexual abuse in young people with intellectual disability, J INTEL DIS, 45, 2001, pp. 244-252
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Rehabilitation,"Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH
ISSN journal
09642633 → ACNP
Volume
45
Year of publication
2001
Part
3
Pages
244 - 252
Database
ISI
SICI code
0964-2633(200106)45:<244:POSAIY>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
The present study addressed two issues using a sample of child and adolesce nt victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse: (1) the extent of posttraumati c stress disorder (PTSD) in the sample; and (2) the possible distinction be tween perpetrators whose motivations were sexually impulsive, and those who were controlling and abuse-reactive. Retrospective case material from 43 c ases (21 victims only, and 22 perpetrators, of whom 16 were also victims) p rovided the data. Post-traumatic symptomatology was not common. Only one ca se of PTSD was found. Perpetrators could be distinguished by whether they h ad suffered sexual abuse alone, sexual and physical abuse, or neither. The proposed distinction between perpetrators received support. Sexual abuse di rected at younger victims was associated with earlier experience of multipl e forms of abuse. The present data does not support the view that post-trau matic symptoms following victimization are a mediator of sexual abuse perpe tration. It is argued that an elaboration of the Williams & New development al model of perpetration better fits the data.