The authors investigated the hypothesis that early abuse might affect
the development of the limbic system. During initial psychiatric
evaluation, 253 outpatients completed a self-report scale, the Limbic
System Checklist-33 (LSCL-33), designed to measure somatic, sensory,
behavioral, and memory symptoms suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy, along
with a questionnaire about physical or sexual abuse. Physical abuse was
associated with a 38% increase in LSCL-33 scores (P < 0.01), sexual
abuse with a 49% increase (P < 0.02), and combined abuse with a 113%
increase (P < 0.0001). Physical or sexual abuse alone was associated
with elevated LSCL-33 scores only if the abuse occurred before age 18.Abstract Teaser