Suicide and fatal overdose increased in child sexual abuse victims

January 01, 0001

Suicide and fatal overdose increased in child sexual abuse victims

The aim of this study by researchers from Melbourne, Australia was to determine the rate and risk of suicide and accidental fatal drug overdose (ie, overdose deemed not to have been suicide) in individuals who had been medically ascertained as having been sexually abused during childhood. Forensic medical records of 2759 victims of CSA who were assessed between 1964 and 1995 were obtained from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and linked with coronial data representing a follow-up period of up to 44 years.

Twenty-one cases of fatal self-harm were recorded. Relative risks for suicide and accidental fatal overdose among CSA victims, compared with age- limited national data for the general population, were 18.09 (population-attributable risk, 0.37%), and 49.22 (population-attributable risk, 0.01%) respectively. Relative risks were higher for female victims. Similar to the general population, CSA victims who died as a result of self-harm were predominantly aged in their 30s at time of death. Most had contact with the public mental health system and half were recorded as being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

The researchers concluded: "Our data highlight that CSA victims are at increased risk of suicide and accidental fatal drug overdose. CSA is a risk factor that mediates suicide and fatal overdose."

This is of concern. The trend may be greater as this study is limited, understandably, to those "medically ascertained as having been sexually abused during childhood".


For the full abstract, click here.

MJA 192 (4): 184-187 15 February 2010 © The Medical Journal of Australia 2010
Suicide and fatal drug overdose in child sexual abuse victims: a historical cohort study. Margaret C Cutajar, Paul E Mullen, James R P Ogloff, Stuart D Thomas, David L Wells and Josie Spataro. Correspondence to James Ogloff: [email protected]

Category: P. Psychological. Keywords: suicide, drug overdose, child, sexual buse, victims, historical cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 12 March 2010

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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