Journal of Affective Disorders, 2019, 244: 171-179

Background
We aimed to investigate associations between childhood sexual abuse and maltreatment and internalizing disorders (anxiety, depression, PTSD) across adulthood.

Methods
Following a postal survey of 2,220 women, a subsample was selected to participate in an interview. The subsample included 276 women reporting childhood sexual abuse and 221 women with no reported history of childhood sexual abuse. Interviews were repeated six and 25 years following the first interview. Internalizing disorders were assessed using ICD-8 and DSM-III criteria.

Results
There was a lower probability of having an internalizing disorder at older ages than younger ages for all women, regardless of maltreatment history. Latent class analysis was used to define three classes (no/low maltreatment, sexual abuse, poly-victimisation). Compared with no/low maltreatment, a history of childhood sexual abuse was associated with almost double the risk of an internalizing disorder and a history of poly-victimisation was associated with over four times the risk of an internalizing disorder. Childhood sexual abuse and poly-victimisation remained associated with an elevated risk of a disorder in older age.

Limitations
Findings are limited by attrition (39% participated at Time 3), low prevalence of severe physical abuse, and changes in assessment practice of childhood maltreatment and mental disorder in the past 30 years.

Conclusions
Screening and treatment for internalizing disorders in women with histories of childhood maltreatment remains important in older aged populations. (Authors' abstract). Data comes from the Qtago Women’s Health Survey Abuse Study. Record #6009