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[Neurobiological consequences of child sexual abuse: a systematic review]

Noemí Pereda1, David Gallardo-Pujol

  • 1Facultat de Psicologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. npereda@ub.edu

Gaceta Sanitaria
|March 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Child sexual abuse can cause lasting neurobiological changes, impacting the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. This review details these effects, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions for affected children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Child maltreatment and sexual abuse can induce critical, long-lasting neurobiological changes.
  • These changes often impact the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis response during sensitive developmental periods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct an updated review of the primary neurobiological consequences of child sexual abuse.
  • To consolidate current research on the lasting effects of childhood sexual victimization.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search of Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published between January 1999 and January 2010.
  • Inclusion of studies in English or Spanish focusing on neurobiological outcomes of child sexual abuse.
  • Examination of reference lists from relevant published articles on childhood sexual victimization.

Main Results:

  • Included 34 studies detailing various neurobiological consequences.
  • Identified neuroendocrine, structural, functional, and neuropsychological effects.
  • These consequences affect a significant number of child sexual abuse victims.

Conclusions:

  • Child maltreatment and sexual abuse represent critical public health issues with widespread neurobiological impacts.
  • Recognizing these multiple effects is essential for developing effective intervention and treatment programs.
  • Further research and clinical attention are needed to address the long-term health implications for victims.
Abstract

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