Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Navalta, C. P. Articles by Teicher, M. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Navalta, C. P. Articles by Teicher, M. H. Neuropsychology Cognition

Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Neuropsychological and Cognitive Function in College Women

Received February 13, 2004; revised December 30, 2004; accepted January 18, 2005. From the Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass. Address correspondence to Dr. Navalta, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478; cnavalta{at}mclean.harvard.edu (E-mail).

Twenty-six college women with a history of repeated childhood sexual abuse were recruited from the community and compared with 19 healthy female collegiate subjects on neurocognitive measures. Abused subjects showed increased response latency variability and diminished inhibitory capacity during a GO/NO-GO/STOP vigilance task. A strong association was found between duration of abuse and memory impairments. Math Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores were significantly lower in abused subjects when matched against comparison subjects and when compared to their own Verbal SAT scores. Childhood sexual abuse appears to be associated with a constellation of neuropsychological deficiencies even in a group of relatively healthy women.

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2006 American Neuropsychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us