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Psychological Correlates of Sexual Abuse in Adolescent Girls In Chemical Dependency Treatment

NCJ Number
118718
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 24 Issue: 94 Dated: (Summer 1989) Pages: 279-301
Author(s)
G E Edwall; N G Hoffmann; P A Harrison
Date Published
1989
Length
23 pages
Annotation
A study involving 597 adolescent girls in treatment for substance abuse between 1984 and 1986 at nine inpatient facilities in five States reveals a striking high prevalence of sexual abuse victimization.
Abstract
Over one-third (35.2 percent) of the girls acknowledged such history. In an additional 9.7 percent of the cases, the primary counselor reported such a history for the patient, although she had denied it, at least at intake. Within this multiproblem, highly stressed population, the sexual abuse victim appears to show slightly different and often more serious psychopathology: a greater incidence of suicidal ideation and attempts, symptoms of agitation, and a sense of shame. 4 tables and 9 references. (Publisher abstract)