Childhood sexual abuse as a predictor of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Sexual abuse, especially when it occurs during childhood, is an experience that causes deep and lasting harm. Currently, its study as a risk factor for the development of trauma-related pathologies is of great relevance. In 2018, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) was officially recognized as a distinct syndrome in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), with the aim of distinguishing it from neurotic disorders secondary to stressful situations, somatoform disorders, and those specifically associated with stress. The inclusion of CPTSD in the ICD-11 marked the culmination of two decades of research dedicated to understanding its symptoms, treatments, and risk factors. This article aims to conduct a meta-analysis that explores the relationship between sexual abuse and the development of CPTSD. Fifteen studies were selected for analysis, and the results revealed several key risk factors associated with the development of CPTSD, with the primary one being childhood sexual abuse (k = 15; OR = 3.007).