Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
Volume 45, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 325-331
Adolescent victims of commercial sexual exploitation versus sexually abused adolescents (Review)
Shaw J.A.* ,
Lewis J.E. ,
Chitiva H.A. ,
Pangilinan A.R.
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a
Mental Health Hospital Center, UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, United States
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b
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Leonard H. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, United States
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c
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Leonard H. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, United States
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d
Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
Abstract
We have discovered in our clinical review that sexually abused girls have significantly better therapeutic outcomes than girls who have been victims of sex trafficking. Thus, we compared the mental health records of 25 adolescent female victims of commercial sexual exploitation with a group of 25 girls with a history of sexual abuse matched for age. Exclusion criteria included IQ >70, organicity, and psychosis. Victims of sexual exploitation were more likely to be in foster care; to have arrests, suspensions from school, and a history of running away; to abuse drugs; to be more impaired in social and school activities; to be withdrawn and depressed; to manifest social and thought problems and aggressive and rule-breaking behaviors; and to have a diagnosis of mood or conduct disorder or both. The results of this study suggest that the psychopathology of girl victims of sexual exploitation is markedly different from that of sexually abused girls. © 2017, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. All rights reserved.
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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85029832674&partnerID=40&md5=34630cf9a6c021992a34fed829256d37
ISSN: 10936793
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English