Clinical Characteristics of Women With a History of Childhood Abuse: Unhealed Wounds

This study sought to determine the prevalence of childhood physical or sexual abuse in women seen in four primary care practices; to identify physical & psychological problems associated with having been abused; & to compare the effects of childhood physical versus sexual abuse & childhood versus adult abuse. Of 1931 respondents, 424 reported childhood or adolescent physical or sexual abuse. Compared with women who reported never having been abused, women who reported abuse as children but not as adults were more likely to have attempted suicide. Women abused only as children did not differ from women who reported current, but not childhood, abuse in number of suicide attempts. (51 refs.)