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Unresolved Childhood Sexual Abuse: Are Older Adults Affected?
Author(s) -
Allers Christopher T.,
Benjack Karen J.,
Allers Norman T.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of counseling and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.805
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1556-6676
pISSN - 0748-9633
DOI - 10.1002/j.1556-6676.1992.tb02163.x
Subject(s) - sexual abuse , psychiatry , dementia , depression (economics) , childhood abuse , psychological abuse , clinical psychology , psychology , elder abuse , medicine , suicide prevention , poison control , medical emergency , disease , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
This article presents case studies and discussions regarding three observed characteristics of unresolved childhood sexual abuse in adult survivors over 65 years of age. Specifically, chronic depression, elder abuse, and the misdiagnoses of residual abuse trauma as dementia or mental illness are compared to parallel issues identified by researchers in younger adult survivors. A brief overview of the childhood abuse literature and recommendations regarding professional training, the development of new services, and additional research are included.