Dataset Information

Are Sexual Assaults Related to Functional Somatic Disorders? A Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT: An increasing number of sexual assaults (SAs) are being reported. This study investigated associations between SA and FSD, conceptualized as bodily distress syndrome (BDS), and five functional somatic syndromes (FSSs): chronic widespread pain (CWP), irritable bowel (IB), chronic fatigue (CF), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), and whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). Participants (n = 7493) from the population-based cohort Danish Study of Functional Disorders (DanFunD) completed questionnaires on FSD, emotional distress, SA, and sociodemographics. Risk ratios (RRs) for each FSD and emotional distress were calculated in nine models with SA as the primary exposure using generalized linear models with binomial family and log link and were adjusted for other potential risk factors. The results showed that SA was associated with single-organ FSD (RR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.22-1.87), multi-organ FSD (RR = 3.51; 95% CI = 1.89-6.49), CWP (RR = 1.28; 95% CI = 0.83-1.98), IB (RR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.30-3.07), CF (RR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.42-2.32), WAD (RR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.37-5.03), MCS (RR = 3.04; 95% CI = 1.79-5.17), emotional distress (RR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.21-2.54), and health anxiety (RR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.10-2.46). Overall, SA victims experienced significantly more somatic symptoms than individuals not exposed to SA. Adjusting for physical and emotional abuse did not change the observed associations. Our results suggest a large impact of SA on the overall somatic and mental health of SA victims. Due to the cross-sectional study design, further studies are required.

SUBMITTER: Jacobsen SA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10606494 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Are Sexual Assaults Related to Functional Somatic Disorders? A Cross-Sectional Study.

Jacobsen Sofie Abildgaard SA Frostholm Lisbeth L Buhmann Cæcilie Böck CB Petersen Marie Weinreich MW Ørnbøl Eva E Dantoft Thomas Meinertz TM Bjerregaard Anne Ahrendt AA Eplov Lene Falgaard LF Carstensen Tina Birgitte Wisbech TBW

International journal of environmental research and public health 20231020 20

An increasing number of sexual assaults (SAs) are being reported. This study investigated associations between SA and FSD, conceptualized as bodily distress syndrome (BDS), and five functional somatic syndromes (FSSs): chronic widespread pain (CWP), irritable bowel (IB), chronic fatigue (CF), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), and whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). Participants (<i>n</i> = 7493) from the population-based cohort Danish Study of Functional Disorders (DanFunD) completed question ...[more]

PMID: 37887685

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Project description:ObjectivesIt has been suggested that infections can trigger functional somatic disorders (FSD). However, current evidence is limited by inconsistent findings in smaller studies conducted in clinical settings within selected populations and short follow-up times. We aimed to test the hypothesis that former infections are associated with FSD using data from nationwide registries and a large population-based cohort study, the Danish Study of Functional Disorders study.DesignFSD cases were identified in a cross-sectional population-based cohort and linked retrospectively to former hospital contacts with infections identified in the Danish National Patient Registry. The associations between FSD and former infections within 17 years were analysed using logistic regressions to calculate ORs and 95% CIs adjusted for age, sex and subjective social status.SettingA population-based cohort in Denmark examined between 2011 and 2015.ParticipantsA total of 9656 men and women aged 18-76 years.Main outcome measuresFSD measured by various delimitations, including bodily distress syndrome (BDS), irritable bowel (IB), chronic fatigue (CF), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).ResultsOverall, infections were associated with increased risk of all delimitations of FSD. The associations were more pronounced for multisystemic FSD. The number of prior infections increased the risk in a dose-response manner (p<0.0001). Bacterial but not viral infections were significantly associated with BDS (OR 1.69 (95% CI 1.46 to 1.96)), IB (OR 1.41 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.88)), CWP (OR 1.47 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.90)) and CF (OR 1.62 (95% CI 1.34 to 1.96)), but not MCS.ConclusionFormer infections leading to hospital contacts were associated with a higher risk of having FSD. These associations were more pronounced for bacterial than viral infections, and more infections increased the risk in a dose-response manner. These results tend to support the idea that severe infections could play a role in FSD.

Project description:BackgroundMost research on military-related sexual assault is based on the United States military and has important limitations, such as low response rates. We sought to estimate the lifetime prevalence of sexual assault, assess its relation to military service and identify the circumstances, correlates and associations with mental disorders of military-related sexual assault among Canadian military personnel.MethodsWe used the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey, a cross-sectional representative survey of Canadian Regular Force personnel (n = 6696). The sample was weighted to be representative of the entire Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force population in 2012 (n = 67 776), as per Statistics Canada requirements. We assessed lifetime trauma exposure and past-year mental disorders using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. We defined lifetime military-related sexual assault as forced sexual activity or unwanted sexual touching that occurred on deployment or in another military workplace, or was perpetrated by Department of National Defence or Canadian Armed Forces personnel. We defined all other sexual assault as non-military-related sexual assault.ResultsSelf-reported sexual assault was more prevalent among women (non-military-related sexual assault 24.2%, military-related sexual assault 15.5%) than men (5.9% and 0.8%, respectively). About a quarter of women with military-related sexual assault reported experiencing at least 1 event on deployment. After covariates were controlled for, military-related sexual assault was independently associated with any lifetime and any past-year mental disorder (adjusted odds ratio 2.9 and 3.0, respectively) and lifetime and past-year posttraumatic stress disorder (adjusted odds ratio 4.3 and 4.1, respectively).InterpretationCanadian military women are at increased risk for sexual assault and military-related sexual assault relative to their male counterparts. Deployment may be a period of elevated risk for military-related sexual assault, and women who reported military-related sexual assault are more likely to have experienced mental disorders, especially posttraumatic stress disorder.

Project description:BackgroundSexual trauma in the context of conflict and displacement is considered one of the most serious and stigmatising forms of human rights violations. Although it has occurred throughout history, research data on this topic is scarce, especially regarding male survivors and Arabic-speaking countries. In the present study, we examined sexual and conflict-related trauma prevalence rates and those of other trauma types, as well as associations with sociodemographic and psychological characteristics among men from Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region seeking treatment via the internet.MethodsIn a cross-sectional and exploratory study design, prevalence rates of different trauma types were examined in a sample of treatment-seeking Arabic-speaking men. Sociodemographic characteristics, psychological symptom scores, disclosure rates, and trauma-related cognitive alterations were compared between participants reporting sexual trauma only (STo), conflict-related trauma only (CRTo), both trauma types (ST + CRT), and other trauma types (Non-ST/CRT). For the primary outcomes (psychological symptoms and trauma exposure) the group differences were analysed using an ANOVA and post-hoc pairwise group comparisons. The data collection took place between February 2021 and March 2023.FindingsIn total, 3903 men were initially screened. Of these, 2138 men indicated having experienced at least one traumatic event from a list of 23 types of events (man-made and non-man-made trauma) and were included in the study (age median: 25, age interquartile range: 10). 22% (n = 471) of participants were categorised into the STo group, 5.9% (n = 127) into the ST + CRT group, 18.6% (n = 397) into the CRTo group, and 53.5% into the Non-ST/CRT group (n = 1143). The ST + CRT group scored higher on measures of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to all other groups; significant differences between the groups were found on both these primary outcomes (depression: F(df) = 3.65 (3, 503.33), p < 0.05; PTSD: F(df) = 5.71 (3, 507.57), p < 0.01). However, these outcomes did not differ significantly between the ST + CRT group and the STo group. Furthermore, the STo and ST + CRT groups showed the highest scores for trauma appraisal and posttraumatic maladaptive beliefs, with no significant differences between them. Notably, the STo group scored significantly lower on the measure of disclosure to others than both the CRTo group (adjusted mean difference [aMD] = -1.14, 95% CI [-1.56, -0.71], p < 0.001) and the Non-ST/CRT group (aMD = -0.90, 95% CI [-0.58, -1.22], p < 0.001). Additionally, the STo group scored greater trauma-related guilt compared to the CRTo (aMD = 0.45, 95% CI [0.29, 0.61], p < 0.001) and the Non-ST/CRT groups (aMD = 0.21, 95% CI [0.33, 0.09], p < 0.001).InterpretationThe results of this exploratory study reveal that a substantial proportion of Arabic-speaking treatment seeking men from different countries in the MENA region reported experiences of sexual and conflict-related trauma, which were associated with high psychological symptom scores. The parallels with survivors of sexual violence occurring in other contexts emphasise the need for sensitivity of researchers and practitioners when assessing sexual violence in male patients. Clinicians should furthermore bear in mind the cognitive alterations and significant barriers to disclosure, which reflect societal taboos and stigma, when working with survivors.FundingThe project was funded by Misereor e.V.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Sexual dysfunction is one of several factors related to medication compliance in patients taking antipsychotic medication but the magnitude of this problem is unknown. AIM:Compare the self-reported sexual functioning of clinically stable patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotic medication to that of healthy controls using the Turkish version of the 5-item Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX). This scale, which has previously been validated in Turkey, assesses 5 components of sexual function: sex drive, sexual arousal, vaginal lubrication/penile erection, ability to achieve orgasm, and satisfaction with orgasm. METHODS:The Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and ASEX were administered to 101 clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia (38 females and 63 males). The ASEX was also administered to 89 control subjects (41 females and 48 males) without a history of mental illness. Respondents were classified as having sexual dysfunction if ASEX total score (range 5-30) >18, if any ASEX item score (range 1-6) ? 5, or if 3 or more ASEX items ?4. RESULTS:Male patients with schizophrenia have significantly more self-reported sexual dysfunction than healthy controls (46% vs. 8%). The prevalence of sexual dysfunction is higher in female patients than in male patients (68% vs. 46%), but it was also very high in healthy female controls (68%), so the sexual dysfunction of female patients cannot be attributed to their illness or to the medications they are taking. Within the patient group, there was no significant relationship between the severity of positive or negative symptoms and the severity of sexual dysfunction, and the severity of sexual function was not different between patients taking first-generation or second-generation antipsychotic medications. CONCLUSIONS:The very different findings by gender in Turkey highlights the importance of assessing location-specific and gender-specific sexual norms when trying to assess the role of mental illness and medications on sexual functioning. Prospective studies are needed to distinguish the relative importance of cultural norms, the schizophrenic illness, and the use of antipsychotic medication in the etiology and course of sexual dysfunction among individuals with schizophrenia.

Dataset Information

Are Sexual Assaults Related to Functional Somatic Disorders? A Cross-Sectional Study.

Publications

Are Sexual Assaults Related to Functional Somatic Disorders? A Cross-Sectional Study.

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