Aurore Malet-Karas1, Delphine Bernard2, Emmanuelle Piet3, Eric Bertin4,5. 1. Sexologist in Puteaux, Puteaux, France. 2. Association "Le Regard du Miroir", 5 Boulevard Foch BP 62732, 51100, Reims, France. 3. Association "Collectif féministe contre le viol (CFCV)", Paris, France. 4. Clinical Nutrition Transversal Unit (UTNC) of Reims University Hospital and Performance, Health, Metrology, Society Laboratory (PSMS, EA 7507) of Reims Champagne-Ardenne University, Reims, France. ebertin@chu-reims.fr. 5. Hôpital Robert Debré, Unité 63 Nutrition, 45 rue Cognacq Jay, 51092, Reims, France. ebertin@chu-reims.fr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aims at clarifying the links between sexual violence and disordered eating (DE). METHODS: In a sample of 12,638 victims of self-reported sexual violence, we analyzed the situation of 546 victims that declared having developed DE. We assessed the characteristics of the assault (age, type of aggression) and the medical consequences (PTSD, depression, suicide attempts, anxiety disorders, etc.). RESULTS: DE prevalence was 4.3% in the victim sample. The age of the first assault in DE victims was significantly lower than that of the whole population (12 years vs 16 years for median; p < 0.001). A much higher prevalence of sexual assault consequences was present in victims developing DE with odd ratios (OR) for: self-mutilation (OR = 11.5 [8.29-15.95], p < 0.001); depression (OR = 5.7 [4.81-6.86], p < 0.001); self-medication (OR = 5.3 [3.86-7.19], p < 0.001); suicide attempts (OR = 4.5 [3.59-5.67], p < 0.001); post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 3.8 [2.99-4.78], p < 0.001); anxiety troubles (OR = 5.2 [4.11-6.47], p < 0.001); alcoholism (OR = 4.0 [2.81-5.58], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study confirms the link between DE and sexual violence, especially in childhood, leading to severe psychological consequences. In this context, DE should be envisaged as a coping strategy accompanying emotional dysregulation due to traumatic events, and be treated as such. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV: Evidence obtained from multiple time series analysis such as case studies.
PURPOSE: This study aims at clarifying the links between sexual violence and disordered eating (DE). METHODS: In a sample of 12,638 victims of self-reported sexual violence, we analyzed the situation of 546 victims that declared having developed DE. We assessed the characteristics of the assault (age, type of aggression) and the medical consequences (PTSD, depression, suicide attempts, anxiety disorders, etc.). RESULTS: DE prevalence was 4.3% in the victim sample. The age of the first assault in DE victims was significantly lower than that of the whole population (12 years vs 16 years for median; p < 0.001). A much higher prevalence of sexual assault consequences was present in victims developing DE with odd ratios (OR) for: self-mutilation (OR = 11.5 [8.29-15.95], p < 0.001); depression (OR = 5.7 [4.81-6.86], p < 0.001); self-medication (OR = 5.3 [3.86-7.19], p < 0.001); suicide attempts (OR = 4.5 [3.59-5.67], p < 0.001); post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 3.8 [2.99-4.78], p < 0.001); anxiety troubles (OR = 5.2 [4.11-6.47], p < 0.001); alcoholism (OR = 4.0 [2.81-5.58], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study confirms the link between DE and sexual violence, especially in childhood, leading to severe psychological consequences. In this context, DE should be envisaged as a coping strategy accompanying emotional dysregulation due to traumatic events, and be treated as such. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV: Evidence obtained from multiple time series analysis such as case studies.
Authors: Ulrike Schmidt; Roger Adan; Ilka Böhm; Iain C Campbell; Alexandra Dingemans; Stefan Ehrlich; Isis Elzakkers; Angela Favaro; Katrin Giel; Amy Harrison; Hubertus Himmerich; Hans W Hoek; Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann; Martien J Kas; Jochen Seitz; Paul Smeets; Lot Sternheim; Elena Tenconi; Annemarie van Elburg; Eric van Furth; Stephan Zipfel Journal: Lancet Psychiatry Date: 2016-04 Impact factor: 27.083