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Clinical Note: Childhood Neurotic Disorders with a Sexual Content need not Imply Child Sexual Abuse
Author(s) -
Healy Nuala,
Fitzpatrick Carol,
Fitzgerald Elaine
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1991.tb01908.x
Subject(s) - psychology , sexual abuse , neuroticism , child sexual abuse , child abuse , poison control , suicide prevention , injury prevention , developmental psychology , human factors and ergonomics , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medical emergency , personality , medicine , psychoanalysis
– Two cases are described of childhood obsessional states in which the content of the symptomatology led parents and professionals to suspect child sexual abuse. Following assessment it was felt, on the balance of probabilities, unlikely that child sexual abuse had occurred in either case. Both children had previously engaged in “sex play” with peers. Maternal attitudes to sexuality were felt to have influenced their daughters’views about sexual behaviour and to have contributed to the children's guilt feelings. Response to appropriate treatment was rapid and has been sustained in the short‐term. The importance of avoiding lengthy and possibly damaging assessment procedures in such cases is discussed.