| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of the extended literature review is to select scientific articles related to the long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse using the databases PubMed, UpToDate, EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, ClinicalKey, and Nature, which are available and subscribed to by Vilnius University. Childhood sexual abuse is a widespread phenomenon, with a prevalence of 5.8-34% among girls and 2-11% among boys, according to the literature. Its long-term consequences include a wide range of endocrine, neurological, and psychiatric changes or disorders, the manifestation of which depends on the nature of the trauma, gender, and genetic or environmental factors. From a neurobiological perspective, sexual abuse in children causes long-term changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, manifested by altered cortisol concentrations and atypical responses to stress, which can lead to structural and functional brain changes associated with various psychopathologies. Sexual abuse experienced at different stages of development affects specific areas of the brain. Studies reveal specific gene and epigenetic differences that modulate individual sensitivity to stress. Sexual abuse experienced in childhood is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. Long-term consequences include both internalising and externalising disorders. Internalising disorders include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and bulimia nervosa. Externalising disorders include an increased risk of substance dependence, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Sexual abuse in childhood leads to early use of psychoactive substances and a higher risk of developing addiction. Suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self injury, different sleep distrubances are also significantly associated with traumatic experiences of this nature. Sexual abuse in childhood can affect sexual functioning and body image, causing various sexual dysfunctions. |
