Medical histories of abused delinquents

The medical histories of 12 abused and 69 nonabused incarcerated delinquent children from the same geographic area were compared. Children who were abused had significantly more hospital visits, emergency room visits, ward admissions, accidents, (especially head and face trauma), and respiratory illnesses through age 16. Perinatal difficulties and psychiatric symptoms were more prevalent in the histories of abused delinquents than in those of nonabused delinquents. The authors discuss the role of child abuse in the development of serious delinquent behaviors.