Mental health disorders as cooccuring and predictive factors of psychotic disorders in sexually abused children

Background: Little is known about the factors associated with psychosis in sexually abused children. Many factors have been associated with both sexual abuse and psychosis, and some mental health disorders have been identified as implied in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis. Objectives: This study aims to identify factors cooccurring with psychotic disorders in sexually abused youth and to determine which predict the development of psychosis in this population. Participants and setting: Children with a corroborated report of sexual abuse (n = 882) at a Child Protection Agency (CPA) between 2000 and 2010 and whose health data could be retrieved from public health databases were selected for this study. Methods: A prospective matched-cohort design was used, with administrative databases from a CPA and a public health system. Logistic regressions were performed to determine which mental health diagnoses were associated with, and which predicted, psychotic disorders. Results: Logistic regressions revealed that personality disorders were significantly associated with psychotic disorders whereas substance misuse disorders and intellectual disability significantly predicted psychotic disorders. Conclusions: Psychotic disorders and personality disorders appear concomitantly in sexually abused youth. Having received a substance misuse disorder diagnosis increases the risk of developing a psychotic disorder in sexually abused youth. Health professionals should be aware of those risk factors to help reduce the severity of youth sexual abuse consequences and, ultimately, prevent psychosis.

Automated summary

The study found that personality disorders were significantly associated with psychotic disorders, while substance misuse disorders and intellectual disabilities significantly predicted psychotic disorders in sexually abused youth. These factors co-occur in this population, and a diagnosis of substance misuse disorder increases the risk of developing psychosis. Health professionals should be aware of these risk factors to mitigate the consequences of youth sexual abuse and prevent psychosis.