The relevance of childhood sexual abuse to adult psychiatric inpatient care.

The prevalence and characteristics of childhood sexual abuse among 50 male and 50 female psychiatric inpatients were assessed in direct interviews. Forty patients reported some type of childhood sexual abuse. Abuse involving genital contact was reported by one in six men inpatients and one in five women and was often recurrent. Forty-four percent of patients who had experienced serious abuse had not revealed it to anyone, including prior therapists. Patients often reported that the abuse experiences continued to affect their current functioning. In clinical assessments, routine inquiry about childhood sexual abuse appears justified to clarify diagnoses and establish effective treatment plans. The authors make specific recommendations for a brief, routine clinical assessment for history of childhood sexual abuse.