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Front Psychol 2018 9;9:2716. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a worldwide problem with serious consequences. We hypothesized that worrisome sexual behavior and knowledge would frequently be reported in children assessed after CSA. We therefore investigated (A) what types of sexual behaviors and knowledge were reported by parents of young children assessed for CSA; (B) in what cases such behaviors and knowledge were worrisome; and (C) how such children responded verbally and non-verbally during child interviews. Read More

J Aggress Maltreat Trauma 2018 9;27(7):795-810. Epub 2017 Nov 9.

Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.

Individuals with a history of childhood trauma experience deficits in emotion regulation. However, few studies have investigated childhood trauma and both perceived (i.e. Read More

Am J Prev Med 2019 Jan;56(1):93-99

Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.

Introduction: The purpose of this prospective study is to examine the role of emotional abuse in predicting youth smoking.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect. The sample was restricted to those who had an interview at age 12 years and at least one interview at ages 14, 16, or 18 years (n=775). Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2019 Feb 8;88:201-211. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States; The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States. Electronic address:

Background: The majority of youth with problem sexualized behaviors (PSB) have substantiated experiences of abuse or exposures to violence (Silovsky & Niec, 2002). Little is known about specific abuse experiences that may differentiate youth with PSB from those without. Few studies have examined the types of abuse associated with post-traumatic stress symptomology. Read More

J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Mattel Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, California.

Study Objective: Because of the high reproductive health risks that commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEY) face, we sought to understand facilitators and barriers related to their use of condoms and hormonal contraception. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We conducted semistructured interviews with 21 female CSEY. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded for emergent themes. Read More

Pediatr Emerg Care 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, and.

We describe 2 cases of child maltreatment who presented as common pediatric conditions: preseptal cellulitis and gastroenteritis. The first case is an 8-year-old girl who presented with progressive right eye pain, swelling, and discharge. She was initially treated for preseptal cellulitis, but eye cultures ultimately grew Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Read More

Br J Psychiatry 2018 Dec;213(6):698-703

Professor,School of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, School of Social Sciences, The University of Queensland and Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre, The University of Queensland,Australia.

Background: Retrospective studies have shown a high association between child abuse and subsequent psychiatric morbidity. Prospective studies are rarer.AimsTo examine, using a prospective record-linkage analysis, whether substantiated child maltreatment is associated with adverse psychological outcomes in early adulthood. Read More

Pediatr Clin North Am 2018 12;65(6):1135-1150

Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, 1540 Hospital Drive, CW 2-737, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, 1540 Hospital Drive, CW 2-737, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address:

One percent to 2% of children in the United States are confirmed victims of child abuse, with many more likely affected. It can be difficult to diagnose, with often misleading medical histories, but acute care providers should be aware of its presenting warning signs and how to evaluate and document suspicious physical findings. Young children who cannot disclose are most vulnerable to forms of abuse with high morbidity and mortality, so it is important to keep it in the differential diagnosis and to be aware of and know how to rule out medical conditions that mimic abuse. Read More

Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2018 Dec;61(12):1587-1602

Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland.

Interviewing a child of a suspected abuse (physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, Munchausen-by-proxy syndrome) is subject to complex risks of suggestion and distortion. The use of a standardized interview protocol as part of the investigation can significantly increase the scope and validity of the child's report in different settings (for example, pediatrics, child welfare services, court).In this paper, the interview protocol provided by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in its revised and complete version is presented in German and made available for free clinical use in the Appendix. Read More

Pediatrics 2018 Dec 9;142(6). Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Division of Emergency Medicine and.

Background And Objective: Evidence-based medical care of sexual abuse victims who present to the pediatric emergency department (PED) is necessary to facilitate forensic evidence collection and prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Adherence to testing and treatment guidelines remains low in PEDs, despite recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We aimed to increase the proportion of patient encounters at a PED for reported sexual abuse that receive algorithm-adherent care from 57% to 90% within 12 months. Read More

Sleep Med 2019 Jan 29;53:28-34. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:

Objectives: To examine associations between parent-reported child sleep walking or talking, nightmares, and trouble sleeping at age eight and psychiatric problems in adulthood (age 30-35) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) survivors and matched normal birth weight (NBW; >2500 g) control participants.

Methods: At age eight, parents of ELBW survivors and NBW control participants completed sleep items on the Child Behavior Checklist assessing the presence of sleep walking/talking, nightmares, or trouble sleeping. At age 30-35, 98 ELBW and 94 NBW individuals completed the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Read More

R I Med J (2013) 2018 Nov 1;101(9):23-26. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Clinician Educator, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Department of Pediatrics, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI.

Child sex trafficking (CST) victims are at risk for HIV infection due to a convergence of both social and biological factors. However, sparse recommendations and guidelines exist for providers on the provision of HIV non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) for CST patients. We evaluated whether pediatricians would provide HIV nPEP in a clinical vignette where a patient disclosed ongoing involvement in CST. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2018 Oct 31. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Community Paediatrics, St Martin's Hospital, Bath, UK.

'County lines' is the term used for the proliferating mobile phone lines used by gangs to infiltrate county towns where a profitable drug market is identified. The National Crime Agency reports that 88% of police areas in England and Wales have either an established or emerging County Lines problem in their area. With an estimated 46 053 aged 10-18 years in England in a gang, the activities of gangs and County Lines have a devastating impact on young people, vulnerable adults and local communities. Read More

Am J Psychiatry 2018 Nov;175(11):1064-1070

From the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and the Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

Child Abuse Negl 2018 Dec 18;86:336-348. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Cape Town, South Africa.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant global problem, prevalent in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). IPV is particularly problematic during the perinatal and early postnatal period, where it is linked with negative maternal and child health outcomes. There has been little examination of profiles of IPV and early life adversity in LMIC contexts. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2018 Nov 11;85:47-57. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Division of General Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Background: Childhood sexual abuse is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. All victims should receive a timely comprehensive medical exam. Currently there is a critical shortage of child abuse pediatricians who can complete the comprehensive child sexual abuse examination. Read More

Eur J Psychotraumatol 2018 3;9(1):1503524. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a worldwide problem affecting children of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. A knowledge gap exists regarding the psychological outcomes for children, boys in particular, who are abused during their early lives. : To provide a descriptive psychological profile of children who experienced sexual abuse as infants or toddlers from a male daycare worker and babysitter, and to assess the psychopathological impact on their parents. Read More

J Interpers Violence 2018 Aug 30:886260518796522. Epub 2018 Aug 30.

4 Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Violence against women remains a significant public health problem globally. The majority of longitudinal studies documenting the negative impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on the mental health of women come from high-income countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal association between emotional, physical, or sexual IPV and depression symptoms among South African women in a prospective cohort study. Read More

J Forensic Nurs 2018 Jul/Sep;14(3):154-161

Department of General Pediatrics, Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children.

Background/objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Pediatric sexual assault (SA) victims are a special population eligible for HPV vaccination at the age of 9 years. National clinical practice guidelines advise clinicians to address HPV during emergency department (ED)-based SA care and at follow-up. Read More

Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2018 Sep 19;2(9):654-665. Epub 2018 Jul 19.

Population, Policy and Practice Programme, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.

Background: Young people are disproportionately affected by sexual assault, yet longitudinal data are sparse. This paper examines the characteristics of adolescents presenting to sexual assault services and mental and sexual health outcomes after an assault.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in adolescents aged 13-17 years attending the Sexual Assault Referral Centres serving Greater London, UK, over 2 years. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2018 Oct 20;84:11-22. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

Dept. of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Electronic address:

The aim of the present study was to adapt and validate the ISPCAN child abuse screening tool-retrospective version (ICAST-R) in Sri Lanka with a view to investigating the experiences of physical, sexual and emotional abuse during childhood. The adaptation was performed using qualitative research methods with young adults, parents, teachers, and a multidisciplinary group of experts. The translation to Sinhala (the local Sri Lankan dialect) was carried out by a nominal group technique. Read More

J Child Sex Abus 2018 Aug-Sep;27(6):612-621. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

f Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Sakarya , Turkey.

Background: Disclosing the sexual abuse may be related on many individual and/or environmental factors in all age groups. The sociocultural context is the most influential factor of the disclosing process especially for those living in patriarchal cultural values. This study compares the impacts of sexual abuse and other sociodemographic variables between recanting and non-recanting victimized groups in Adana city from Turkey. Read More

J Child Sex Abus 2018 Jul 18;27(5):476-489. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

b Social Pediatrics Unit, Dr.Behcet Uz Child Disease and Pediatric Surgery Training and Research Hospital , University of Health Sciences , İzmir , Turkey.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate sociodemographic variables, features of sexual abuse (SA), and first psychiatric evaluation results of abused children, and to analyze the relation of the psychiatric evaluation results to the children's age and gender, type and duration of abuse, abuser-child relationship, and marital status of the children's parents, at one of the most experienced Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Turkey. All data were obtained from reports prepared by child and adolescent psychiatrists. The sample of this study consists of 436 child sexual abuse (CSA) cases who admitted İzmir CAC between April 2014 and November 2015. Read More

Hum Reprod 2018 09;33(9):1657-1668

Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA.

Study Question: Is there an association between physical and sexual abuse occurring in childhood or adolescence and risk of laparoscopically-confirmed endometriosis?

Summary Answer: Early life sexual and physical abuse was associated with an increased risk of endometriosis.

What Is Known Already: Previous studies have reported that physical and sexual abuse are associated with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). However, only one study has examined the association between childhood physical abuse and laparoscopically-confirmed endometriosis, and did not observe an association with endometriosis risk. Read More

Pediatrics 2018 Sep 9;142(3). Epub 2018 Jul 9.

Division of Academic General Pediatrics and.

Objectives: To determine if longitudinal associations exist between parental incarceration (PI) and health care use or health behaviors among a national sample of young adults.

Methods: We used the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine associations between history of mother incarceration (MI) and father incarceration (FI), health care use, and 3 dimensions of health behaviors (eg, general health behaviors, substance use, and other risky behaviors) ( = 13 084). Multivariable logistic regression models accounted for individual, family, and geographic factors and generated adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Read More

Prev Med 2018 Sep 5;114:164-167. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 21 Autumn St, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America.

As a major public health issue, human trafficking (HT) affects individuals, families, communities, and societies around the world. A public health approach to combating HT has been advocated. Such an approach seeks to prevent HT by engaging diverse stakeholder groups in addressing risk factors at multiple levels. Read More

Nervenarzt 2018 Nov;89(11):1262-1270

Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg (MHB), Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie, Ruppiner Kliniken, Hochschulklinikum der MHB, Neuruppin, Deutschland.

Background: Severe mental illness in parents increases the risk of neglect, physical and sexual abuse (adverse childhood experiences, ACE) of children.

Objective: Presentation of the current situation of child protection issues in psychiatric care in Germany and the derivation of needs and potential solution strategies.

Material And Methods: Based on a selective literature search, the needs and the current situation in Germany are presented and potential solution strategies are pointed out. Read More

CNS Neurosci Ther 2019 Jan 27;25(1):101-111. Epub 2018 Jun 27.

Consortium for Translational Research on Aggression and Drug Abuse (ConTRADA), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.

Background: Postsecondary students in Western countries exhibit a high prevalence of cannabis and tobacco use disorders. The etiology of these problems is contributed by several psychosocial factors, including childhood adversity and trauma; however, the mechanisms whereby these environmental determinants predispose to the use of these substances remain elusive, due to our poor knowledge of genetic and biological moderators. Converging evidence points to the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene as a moderator of the effects of lifetime stress on the initiation of substance use. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2018 Sep 26;177(9):1419-1423. Epub 2018 Jun 26.

European Academy of Paediatrics, Brussels, Belgium.

Child trafficking is among the most lucrative criminal activities in the world and growing rapidly. Poverty, natural disasters, armed conflicts and, in particular, migration put vulnerable children at high risk of trafficking. Accurate statistics on child trafficking are not available due to its illegal nature. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2018 Jun 25. Epub 2018 Jun 25.

Department of Social Pediatrics, Child Abuse and Neglect Team, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, AMC, Meibergdreef 9 (h7-288), 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Recognizing child sexual abuse (CSA) in children is difficult, as there can be many hurdles in the assessment of alleged CSA. With this paper, we try to improve the recognition of CSA by discussing: (1) the difficulties regarding this matter and (2) the diagnostic evaluation of alleged CSA, combining both practical clinical recommendations based on recent research. Children are restrained to disclose CSA due to various reasons, such as fears, shame, and linguistic or verbal limitations. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Jun;97(24):e11147

Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University.

Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) are associated with disruptions of fetal development. We propose that the same genetic compositions that contribute to the presence of MPAs, also predispose individuals to health-compromising behaviors, thus considering MPAs as particular endophenotypes.We developed a screening questionnaire for problematic conduct, substance abuse, and early sexual practice. Read More

J Child Sex Abus 2018 Oct 11;27(7):729-751. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

d Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Academic Medical Centre, Academic Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.

Children with alleged child sexual abuse (CSA) need to be assessed systematically. The use of validated instruments during the assessment, like the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI), could add diagnostic value. We aim to assess the diagnostic utility of the CSBI to differentiate between sexually abused and non-abused children. Read More

Curr Opin Pediatr 2018 08;30(4):582-590

Child Protection Program, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital.

Purpose Of Review: Despite an increasing understanding of the impact of emotional trauma and physical abuse on children, clinicians and hospitals still sometimes miss the diagnosis of abuse. The literature in 2017 focused on creating standardized approaches to recognition and diagnosis of physical abuse and occult injury, including using the electronic medical record to provide triggers for consultation of the hospital Child Protection Program. The American College of Radiology updated their standardized approach to the evaluation of physical abuse in the child, and other authors gave us screening tools for commercial exploitation, as well as guidance about how to recognize risks for emotional abuse in families. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2018 Jul 10;81:214-224. Epub 2018 May 10.

Dept. of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Electronic address:

Abuse during childhood is a human tragedy leading to lifelong adverse health, social, and economic consequences for survivors. This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of childhood physical, sexual and emotional abusive experiences among students (aged 18-19 years) in a Sri Lankan district. Multistage cluster sampling was used to select a sample of 1500 students. Read More

R I Med J (2013) 2018 05 1;101(4):25-27. Epub 2018 May 1.

The Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr. Child Protection Center, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Clinician Educator at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) has become an increasingly recognized issue associated with both immediate and long-term physical and mental health consequences. Guidelines have focused on potential risk factors, recruitment practices, and health consequences for these youth assisting in identification and intervention efforts. However, recommendations have not been established for continuous medical intervention and follow-up for this vulnerable patient population that includes both patients involved in and at high risk for DMST. Read More

Paediatr Child Health 2018 Apr 1;23(2):116-118. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre and SeaStar Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

While often a silent and invisible issue, childhood trauma is pervasive, and has profound individual, societal and economic impacts. Many forms of childhood trauma exist, including child physical and sexual abuse. Given the prevalence, impact and availability of prevention and intervention approaches, child abuse deserves the same level of awareness, policy priority and investment as is directed to other issues of significant public health importance. Read More

BMJ Paediatr Open 2017 30;1(1):e000125. Epub 2017 Nov 30.

Community Child Health, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.

Objective: Child maltreatment (CM) is a major public health problem globally. While there is evidence for the value of medical examination in the assessment of CM, little is known about the quality of clinical assessments for CM. South Western Sydney (SWS) has a large metropolitan population with many vulnerable subgroups. Read More

BMJ Paediatr Open 2017 14;1(1):e000120. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Department of Community Paediatrics, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.

Objective: South Western Sydney has a large culturally diverse population with many vulnerable subgroups; little is known about the health and social outcomes following acute child maltreatment assessments. We aimed to describe acute presentations of maltreatment in South Western Sydney-including examination findings of the assessment, determine health and social outcomes for children following medical assessment, to inform service development.

Design: We gathered data from the acute child protection database on all children <16 years referred for physical abuse and neglect and/or sexual abuse assessment between 2013 and 2015 to one hospital service. Read More

J Sex Res 2019 Feb 10;56(2):229-238. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

c Department of Pediatrics , University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Intrusive sexual behaviors (ISBs) are a specific type of problematic sexual behavior characterized by the invasive nature of the acts (e.g., touching others' private parts, attempting intercourse; Friedrich, 1997). Read More

J Urban Health 2018 Aug;95(4):576-583

Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Criminal justice practices in the USA disproportionately affect sexual and racial/ethnic minority men, who are at higher risk of incarceration. Previous research demonstrates associations between incarceration and sexual risk behaviors for men who have sex with men (MSM). However, little of this work focuses on young MSM (YMSM), particularly HIV-infected YMSM, despite nearly one-third reporting engagement in sexual risk behaviors, such as transactional sex. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Apr;97(14):e0236

Division of Pediatric General Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a global problem that affects children of all ages, and the evaluation of these victims by psychologic and gynecologic experts in pediatric emergency departments is an important issue. Few data are available on the characteristics of children admitted to pediatric emergency department with recurrent CSA and delayed reported CSA. The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical features of, and risk factors for, recurrent CSA and delayed reported CSA. Read More

Arch Womens Ment Health 2018 Dec 28;21(6):663-670. Epub 2018 Mar 28.

Department of Community Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.

The aims of the current study were to examine the association between maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and antepartum health risks, and to investigate whether social support moderated this association. It was hypothesized that ACEs would be associated with antepartum health risks; however, social support in the prenatal period would buffer mothers from the deleterious consequences of ACEs. Data from 1994 women (mean age = 31 years) and their infants were collected from a longitudinal cohort recruited in health care offices in Alberta, Canada. Read More

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2018 Nov 17;27(11):1483-1490. Epub 2018 Mar 17.

Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, England, UK.

Much of the research on sexual orientation disparities in eating disorder behaviors has been conducted in the USA, Canada, and Australia. Data on the associations of sexual orientation and eating disorder symptoms among adolescents in the UK are lacking. Participants were children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a youth cohort born 1991-1992 (n = 5048; 53% female; 12% sexual minority). Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2018 May 20;79:401-412. Epub 2018 Mar 20.

Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.

Although child welfare caseworkers are responsible for facilitating mental health services access for maltreated children, little is known about caseworkers' decisions to refer children to services. We aimed to identify factors associated with caseworker referral of children to mental health services after a maltreatment investigation. We analyzed data from 1956 children 2-17 years old from the Second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being. Read More

Paediatr Int Child Health 2018 05 1;38(2):85-86. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

a Department of Reproductive Health and Research , World Health Organization , Geneva , Switzerland.

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2018 Jul-Aug;36(4):575-580. Epub 2018 Feb 15.

Department of Internal Medicine H, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Objectives: Psychological stress is thought to play a major role in the development and exacerbation of autoimmune diseases in general, as well as in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in particular. The aims of the current study are to compare retrospective self-reports of childhood maltreatment and lifetime major life/traumatic experiences of American and Israeli RA patients, using standardised instruments, while adjusting for concomitant mental disorders and psychological distress, in order to rule out their part in the subjective reports, thus addressing the trans-cultural robustness of the association between childhood maltreatment, traumatic experiences and RA.

Methods: RA patients at the participating study centres were recruited by their physicians, both in Israel and the USA. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2018 May 20;79:98-106. Epub 2018 Feb 20.

Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Repeated exposure to childhood adversity (abuse, neglect and other traumas experienced before age 18) can have lifelong impacts on health. For HIV-infected adolescents and youth, such impacts may include onward transmission of HIV. To evaluate this possibility, the current study measured the burden of childhood adversity and its influence on risky health behaviors among perinatally-infected adolescents and youth. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2018 May 2;79:22-30. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Faculty of Information & Media Studies, and Research Scholar, Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, Western University, London, Canada. Electronic address:

Despite being a primary response to child abuse, it is currently unknown whether contact with child protection services (CPS) does more good than harm. The aim of the current study was to examine whether contact with CPS is associated with improved mental health outcomes among adult respondents who reported experiencing child abuse, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and abuse severity. The data were drawn from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health (CCHS-2012), which used a multistage stratified cluster design (household-level response rate = 79. Read More

Child Abuse Negl 2018 May 6;79:11-21. Epub 2018 Feb 6.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Kitakyushu City Yahata Hospital, Japan.

This study aimed to investigate the penetration rate of child protection teams (CPTs) in medical institutions and associations between CPT functions and hospital services. We collected data in October of 2015 from 377 hospitals in Japan offering pediatric organ transplantation. The questionnaire included questions regarding the existence of a CPT, the number of child maltreatment cases discussed and reported per year, CPT functions including 21 items about staffing, manuals, meeting, prevention, education, and collaboration, and the services provided by the hospital. Read More