Sexual abuse and mental disorders: evidence from an epidemiological study in populations of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo

• Grant number: 10/19182-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2011
• End date: February 28, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Maria Inês Soares Quintana
• Grantee: Maria Inês Soares Quintana
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ghina K. E. D. M. Machado ; Hudson Cristiano Wander de Carvalho ; Sérgio Baxter Andreoli

Abstract

To study the relationship between sexual abuse, socio-demographic factors and psychiatric disorders in a general population sample. Rationale: Sexual abuse, especially in childhood, has been linked to cognitive, emotional, sexual and social impairment to the victim and his family. There is a direct relationship relating the abuse to the development of psychiatric disorders. The identification of factors related to sexual abuse and mental disorders in the general population may assist in developing public policies and intervention to prevent or minimize the psychological and social consequences often irreparable to life of the individual. Method: random sample of 3744 individuals from the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, of both sexes, aged between 15 and 75 years. We used the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 2.1 (CIDI) for diagnostic classification of mental disorders and instruments from the included in the protocol of the Study of Violence and PTSD (Millennium Project) protocol. Prevalence estimates and confidence intervals 95% (CI) were calculated and standardized by age and gender distribution of the population of Sao Paulo. The associations between sexual violence and psychiatric disorders will be analyzed by contingency tables. The associations between psychiatric disorders and traumatic events and victimization are analyzed using a logistic regression model. (AU)