Clinical Correlates of Children and Adolescents with History of Abuse Presenting in A Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Abstract

The current study aimed to assess the clinical features of children and adolescents with exposure to trauma. Objective assessment of children adolescents (age below 15 years of age) with history of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual and neglect) evaluated at the Erna Hoch Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at CIP, Ranchi (Jharkhand, India) during a 3-month period was conducted. The most common form of abuse was emotional abuse (64%) followed by physical abuse (34%). All children and adolescents presented with psychiatric symptoms. The commonest diagnoses were Anxiety-disorders (38%), and Depressive Disorder (28%) followed by Dissociative disorders (14%) and disruptive disorders (12%). Vast majority (62.2%) had exposure to more than one form of trauma event. Children had poor global functioning and well-being, with significant reduction in positive emotional state and positive outlook in them. Psychiatric morbidity is a crucial reality in the clinical group of children with a history of any type of abuse. A significant number of these youngsters experience multiple forms of abuse. Anxiety and depressive disorders, coupled with diminished global functioning and well-being, are widespread among abuse victims. During the initial consultation, it is essential to evaluate risk factors, circumstances of misuse, and psychiatric morbidity to deliver customized interventions for this population. In the present context, proactive involvement with caregivers and adaptability in delivering therapies may be crucial for maintaining consistent communication between these families and the mental health system. Future study should concentrate on risk factors, resilience factors, and the efficacy of interventions tailored to the Indian context.